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The Pucker-Up Pact
My first year playing center for the brand new AHL team, and things are off to a disastrous start.
After losing my temper with the refs in front of a fan-filled arena, my coach devises a plan to “make me more likable.”
It’s a horrible plan that isn’t going to work.
He wants me to pretend to date a famous singer in hopes that her fans will become my fans.
The last thing I want to do is date, pretend to date, or think about dating. Who has time for that when I have hockey games to win? When my coach forces me to pose for a publicity photo with this woman, I vow to get it over with as quickly as possible.
But she has other plans for me.
Her ebony hair, her mischievous smile, her everything edges into my heart. When the magnetism between us explodes, it’s game over.
Just when I think I’m ready to let Sophie melt my heart, I uncover a devastating secret that changes everything.
The Pucker-Up Pact is a she’s mine vibes, revenge fake-dating, sweet romantic comedy with zero swearing and a HEA.
After losing my temper with the refs in front of a fan-filled arena, my coach devises a plan to “make me more likable.”
It’s a horrible plan that isn’t going to work.
He wants me to pretend to date a famous singer in hopes that her fans will become my fans.
The last thing I want to do is date, pretend to date, or think about dating. Who has time for that when I have hockey games to win? When my coach forces me to pose for a publicity photo with this woman, I vow to get it over with as quickly as possible.
But she has other plans for me.
Her ebony hair, her mischievous smile, her everything edges into my heart. When the magnetism between us explodes, it’s game over.
Just when I think I’m ready to let Sophie melt my heart, I uncover a devastating secret that changes everything.
The Pucker-Up Pact is a she’s mine vibes, revenge fake-dating, sweet romantic comedy with zero swearing and a HEA.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2024
205 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
July 4, 2025
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Maybe it was the fact that I couldn’t get past the male narrator’s smarmy Transatlantic accent apropos of nothing or the fact that the very first chapter had the brand new AHL player straight from college complaining about his job playing professional hockey, but I struggled with this one. While I was glad it was over soon, it was too short to have any real character development or in depth plot line so the main male character’s sudden and complete personality change was jarring to say the least.
June 25, 2025
AHL Hockey player x pop star
Grumpy x sunshine
Small town
Fake dating
Water gun fights
Dual Narration- Kasey Miracle & Magnus Carlson
*The cover says Duet but this is definitely dual narration. They do a good job with the narration.
Sophie heartbroken pop star looking for revenge on her cheating ex boyfriend.
Axl hot headed hockey player looking to build a better image.
This was super cute and sweet. I really enjoyed it. Definitely on the fluffy side and just kisses no spice however it’s a fabulous lighthearted and quick easy listen.
Grumpy x sunshine
Small town
Fake dating
Water gun fights
Dual Narration- Kasey Miracle & Magnus Carlson
*The cover says Duet but this is definitely dual narration. They do a good job with the narration.
Sophie heartbroken pop star looking for revenge on her cheating ex boyfriend.
Axl hot headed hockey player looking to build a better image.
This was super cute and sweet. I really enjoyed it. Definitely on the fluffy side and just kisses no spice however it’s a fabulous lighthearted and quick easy listen.
June 29, 2024
Can one kiss really change everything. When Sophie returns home after finding her ex cheating on her, she swears off men. Intending to spend some well earned rest and get over the hurt with her family. Cancelling some of her shows isn't the best idea, but she needs time to heal. Then an unexpected knock on her parents door she's presented with the perfect revenge plan. Axl has lived his whole life building his hockey career, he's worked hard to prove himself and he really wants to make it to the NHL. But his has one main fault that being he doesn't have the likeable factor and needs to change his image. When his coach comes up with a plan he's not convinced it's the best idea. He doesn't date and he definitely won't fake date just to improve his image. This is a brilliant fake dating story and more besides. I enjoyed reading how the characters grew and each learnt lessons that never really stood out to them before. I loved the part when Axl says "But if you do it changes everything. If you kiss me, your mine". I loved everything about this book it's funny, romantic and totally relatable
June 26, 2024
“If you kiss me, you’re mine.”
4.5 STARS! ⭐️ Another sweet romcom by J.P. Sterling! It is always hit or miss for me when it comes to fake dating romance stories but this one was a hit!
Sophie is a famous musical artist that goes through a very public and high profile breakup from her cheating NHL boyfriend, Rocco. Axl is a up and coming minor league hockey player, hot and extremely good looking, but doesn’t have the best public demeanor.
Axl’s team manager decides he needs a public image boost and what better way than to use the gorgeous star, Sophie. It’s a win-win for both — she gets revenge on her cheating ex being with a gorgeous guy and he gets a positive image with her and bring on new fans. What could go wrong??
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey we were taken on. Neither one counted on is having more in common than what they anticipated as they got to know one another. I loved Axl — honest and upfront; had an alpha male vibe, protector quality; and very masculine too. Sophie beautiful and sweet and I loved her relationships with her family members. She’s not arrogant in her wealth at all, she’s very generous. A story that shows the importance of communication, honesty, grace and forgiveness. I loved how both get a deserved happily ever after together.
Clean, fun storytelling, sweet kisses, intriguing— throughout the book you’re reading wondering how it was all going to play out — and overall delightful. Great chemistry between the two and I am always appreciative of authors including epilogues — as I was just not ready to be done with their story!
Had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of the book. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 STARS! ⭐️ Another sweet romcom by J.P. Sterling! It is always hit or miss for me when it comes to fake dating romance stories but this one was a hit!
Sophie is a famous musical artist that goes through a very public and high profile breakup from her cheating NHL boyfriend, Rocco. Axl is a up and coming minor league hockey player, hot and extremely good looking, but doesn’t have the best public demeanor.
Axl’s team manager decides he needs a public image boost and what better way than to use the gorgeous star, Sophie. It’s a win-win for both — she gets revenge on her cheating ex being with a gorgeous guy and he gets a positive image with her and bring on new fans. What could go wrong??
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey we were taken on. Neither one counted on is having more in common than what they anticipated as they got to know one another. I loved Axl — honest and upfront; had an alpha male vibe, protector quality; and very masculine too. Sophie beautiful and sweet and I loved her relationships with her family members. She’s not arrogant in her wealth at all, she’s very generous. A story that shows the importance of communication, honesty, grace and forgiveness. I loved how both get a deserved happily ever after together.
Clean, fun storytelling, sweet kisses, intriguing— throughout the book you’re reading wondering how it was all going to play out — and overall delightful. Great chemistry between the two and I am always appreciative of authors including epilogues — as I was just not ready to be done with their story!
Had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of the book. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 3, 2024
I loved this book!!!
It’s such a fast read that I finished it in 3 hours!!! I loved Axl and I got anxiety for a second about Sophie’s choice (not gonna spoiler read to find out :) ) all in all I really liked it and I’ll definitely recommend it to my friends!
It’s such a fast read that I finished it in 3 hours!!! I loved Axl and I got anxiety for a second about Sophie’s choice (not gonna spoiler read to find out :) ) all in all I really liked it and I’ll definitely recommend it to my friends!
July 10, 2025
A big thanks to Victory Editing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.
Anyone who knows me, knows I am always up for the Fake Dating trope. So I was super excited to get approved for this. I got approved for both the ebook and the audiobook, so I read a bit of it, but mostly listened.
I liked how the characters have similar work ethics and experiences and how the book shows what ways that compatibility and understanding matters. This could have been more nuanced than it was— both character’s “romantic trauma” is being cheated on in past relationships, and both are hardworking to get the fame and money they want.
I didn’t love the repeated emphasis on how money and fame were such an important goal and accomplishment for both of them. Not that success, financial security, and recognition aren’t things everyone strives for, but the over emphasis on excessive wealth and luxury, like private jets, rubbed me the wrong way. The way these things were discussed made both characters, but mostly Axl, seem very centered around material things, more than just in awe of a celebrity lifestyle he was being exposed to for the first time. Maybe I’m just taking this too seriously, but that’s one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, and might others reading it.
I also wish there was more build up for the relationship. I’m not opposed to them both immediately being attracted to each other, but I do wish there was more time dedicated to them getting to actually know each other. As opposed to the time skip toward the end.
Axl also acted rude toward Sophie at the beginning of the arrangement, rather directly, yet none of that is ever acknowledged in Sophie’s point of view. All she thinks about him at that stage is how she finds him attractive. Nothing about their interactions and how he isn’t exactly nice towards her, even though they are supposed to be working together, mostly to help his reputation. If this was acknowledged, rather by making Axl feel bad about his treatment of her at first, Sophie feeling like she is getting mixed signals, or them developing a banter, this would have made the relationship so much more interesting and developed.
While I’m neither a famous musician or athlete, or work in PR, this felt very unrealistic any time it went into any of the professional part of the story, which shouldn’t be a big deal as it’s just the set up, but I still wish it had seemed a little more realistic. Again, not one of my top complaints, and would definitely be something I wouldn’t have cared about as much if I was more invested in the relationship.
Overall, this was a cute read. It was a light Hallmark-este story as promised. Very corny, but again that’s what it was marketed as. It comes in at a little under 200 pages, and 3ish hours on audiobook. I had the story done after listening to a few chapters a day as I did stuff around the house.
There was a lot of untapped potential here, and I think this could have been a higher rated read for me if a little more was put into developing each character and their relationship past clichés. It just fell into eye roll inducing insta-love each time I thought we might go deeper.
The audiobook was very well done and I especially appreciated the duel narrators for each point of view. Both narrators did really well and helped add even more personality to the characters by bringing them to life.
Anyone who knows me, knows I am always up for the Fake Dating trope. So I was super excited to get approved for this. I got approved for both the ebook and the audiobook, so I read a bit of it, but mostly listened.
I liked how the characters have similar work ethics and experiences and how the book shows what ways that compatibility and understanding matters. This could have been more nuanced than it was— both character’s “romantic trauma” is being cheated on in past relationships, and both are hardworking to get the fame and money they want.
I didn’t love the repeated emphasis on how money and fame were such an important goal and accomplishment for both of them. Not that success, financial security, and recognition aren’t things everyone strives for, but the over emphasis on excessive wealth and luxury, like private jets, rubbed me the wrong way. The way these things were discussed made both characters, but mostly Axl, seem very centered around material things, more than just in awe of a celebrity lifestyle he was being exposed to for the first time. Maybe I’m just taking this too seriously, but that’s one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, and might others reading it.
I also wish there was more build up for the relationship. I’m not opposed to them both immediately being attracted to each other, but I do wish there was more time dedicated to them getting to actually know each other. As opposed to the time skip toward the end.
Axl also acted rude toward Sophie at the beginning of the arrangement, rather directly, yet none of that is ever acknowledged in Sophie’s point of view. All she thinks about him at that stage is how she finds him attractive. Nothing about their interactions and how he isn’t exactly nice towards her, even though they are supposed to be working together, mostly to help his reputation. If this was acknowledged, rather by making Axl feel bad about his treatment of her at first, Sophie feeling like she is getting mixed signals, or them developing a banter, this would have made the relationship so much more interesting and developed.
While I’m neither a famous musician or athlete, or work in PR, this felt very unrealistic any time it went into any of the professional part of the story, which shouldn’t be a big deal as it’s just the set up, but I still wish it had seemed a little more realistic. Again, not one of my top complaints, and would definitely be something I wouldn’t have cared about as much if I was more invested in the relationship.
Overall, this was a cute read. It was a light Hallmark-este story as promised. Very corny, but again that’s what it was marketed as. It comes in at a little under 200 pages, and 3ish hours on audiobook. I had the story done after listening to a few chapters a day as I did stuff around the house.
There was a lot of untapped potential here, and I think this could have been a higher rated read for me if a little more was put into developing each character and their relationship past clichés. It just fell into eye roll inducing insta-love each time I thought we might go deeper.
The audiobook was very well done and I especially appreciated the duel narrators for each point of view. Both narrators did really well and helped add even more personality to the characters by bringing them to life.
December 6, 2024
I absolutely loved Axl & Sophie's heartachingly beautiful, sweet, caring, loving, forgiving, swoony story!!
June 27, 2025
When a hockey romance starts off in the middle of a play, and you're racing down the ice with the MMC. When you're thrown right into the thick of the game. You know it's going to be awesome. I love me some hockey romance. And when you're in the mood for a just kisses, sweet romance read, J.P. Sterling hits the mark every time.
What to expect: Fake Dating to save face. Agreeing to the fake dating to stick it to the one who wronged you. Feelings that can't make up their own mind. An entertaining FMC whose career is more advanced than the MMC and the MMC that still chooses to be there with her.
Sophie and Axl help each other out on this one. Her sunshine to his grump. They are super cute together and a part. Plus, there's an amazing big gesture to get the W. I would recommend if you're looking for a light, quick, and easy, entertaining read. J.P. Sterling does it again.
What to expect: Fake Dating to save face. Agreeing to the fake dating to stick it to the one who wronged you. Feelings that can't make up their own mind. An entertaining FMC whose career is more advanced than the MMC and the MMC that still chooses to be there with her.
Sophie and Axl help each other out on this one. Her sunshine to his grump. They are super cute together and a part. Plus, there's an amazing big gesture to get the W. I would recommend if you're looking for a light, quick, and easy, entertaining read. J.P. Sterling does it again.
July 8, 2025
Sweet story following singer Sophie, who is trying to get revenge on her cheating ex and hockey player Axel. Axel has a “not so friendly” reputation in the league as he tries his hardest to make it to the NHL; his boss comes up with a great idea to improve his reputation by setting him up to fake date a celebrity. The one rule Sophie and Axel have, no kissing.
Listed to the audio book; the narrators did a great job on the dual narrated story.
Thank you to Victory Editing, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.
Listed to the audio book; the narrators did a great job on the dual narrated story.
Thank you to Victory Editing, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.
July 5, 2025
I really enjoyed the idea behind this book but the audiobook kind of fell flat. I think it would have been better with just the female narrator as they didn’t mesh well together. I also felt the main conflict of the book ended so quickly. I got to the epilogue and thought was that it? I did enjoy the bonus epilogue though. Otherwise it was just felt like it was picking up when it ended and was rushed.
ARC provided by Victory Editing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
ARC provided by Victory Editing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 27, 2025
This novella was the perfect size. I'm in my hockey romance era, so I was all about this one. A fake dating scenario turns into real chemistry, what is not to love? It was a little more insta-lust than I would have liked, but still felt like a slow burn until they finally admitted it was real.
July 11, 2025
One thing about me? I love a fake dating trope! I really enjoyed Axel’s grumpy personality & Sophie’s bubbly sunshine personality!
I really enjoyed this audiobook, the narrators were great & it was a quick & fun listen. It does say “duet” but it is actually a dual narration, but it was still enjoyable!
I really enjoyed this audiobook, the narrators were great & it was a quick & fun listen. It does say “duet” but it is actually a dual narration, but it was still enjoyable!
July 21, 2025
This was really sweet, a super cute clean romance but with some lovely moments.
July 23, 2025
Thank you @NetGalley for the LARC. This was a cute short spicy novella. The narrators were great. Axel and Sophie were so cute.
September 19, 2025
This was a cute, sweet romance read. Fast paced with humor and all the feel-good vibes. This quick story is perfect for someone looking for a light, spice-free romance that will leave you with a smile on your face.
July 17, 2025
Axel and Sophie
Axel is a closed-off hockey player who refuses to date. But his anger on the ice is ruining his chances to move from the AHL to the NHL. To combat Axel's negative reputation, the owner of his team and his coach create a relationship with a popular music artist, Sophie. Mayhem ensues. I like it when a kiss determines a relationship rather than a kiss being JUST a 💋.
For my second reading, I was able to listen to it. My only "complaint" is that the man and woman reading the book don't sound like how Axel and Sophie do in my head. lol Of course, that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of their story!!
Axel is a closed-off hockey player who refuses to date. But his anger on the ice is ruining his chances to move from the AHL to the NHL. To combat Axel's negative reputation, the owner of his team and his coach create a relationship with a popular music artist, Sophie. Mayhem ensues. I like it when a kiss determines a relationship rather than a kiss being JUST a 💋.
For my second reading, I was able to listen to it. My only "complaint" is that the man and woman reading the book don't sound like how Axel and Sophie do in my head. lol Of course, that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of their story!!
January 27, 2025
“You can kiss me.” I place my hand on her hand that’s still securely holding my leg. I may not be able to diagnose what sparked this urge of hers, but one thing I know is if I kiss her, she’s mine.
There'll be no more games.
“But if you do,” I say, lowering my voice into a warning, “it changes this whole thing. We can’t circle back to a talking stage, and I don’t do situationships that neither of us understand. No more faking it.
If you kiss me, you're mine.”
MAIN CHARACTERS' NAME
Sophie Summers | Axl Erikson
FEATURES
• Sunshine / Sunshine
• Golden retriever / Golden retriever
• Hockey romance
• Hockey / pop star
• Fake dating
• Forced Proximity
• Revenge
• Taking advantage
REVIEW
I feel so bad for Axl omg. He had no idea.
At first, they both agreed to fake date and just take some pictures to help Axl careers to get into NHL. Sophie agreed because she just got cheated on her ex boyfriend publicly and her ex is NHL player actually. So she gained some popularity from her ex.
Man, Axl is such a cutie. He worked really hard and always in his mind, he wanted to be NHL star. And when he entered Sophie's rich life, he immediately dreamt of wanting one and all. He's such a gentleman!
So they both had settled those fake dates. Then Bill, one of Axl's staff if I'm not mistaken, made an agreement with Sophie to sign another contract. Which is to make them both kiss, without Axl's knowledge.
Sophie HAD to agree because her career is at loss so yeah. She invited him for dinner with her family and he immediately bonded with her family as he never really had a family before because his parents are always busy. And Bill will take photos of them to post later.
Both of them kissed that night and just like the quote stated, they both dated. And they both fell in love.
Axl had a game after that, and he was so cute. The cuteness is to the point he gave his extra jersey to Sophie so she'll wear it. And she did. And to Axl's surprised, he got distracted and his game was at loss.
He was so devastated that he didn't meet Sophie after that game. Instead, Bill confronted him and admit everything. He told him that everything was a stunt, and he needed to stop because he's getting distracted.
When Axl knew about Sophie's and Bill's agreement, obviously he's devastated. And they had a confrontation and that was very SAD.
But Sophie, who have start growing feelings and knowing that Axl said he wouldn't forgive her is very sad to her, she immediately pull a new stunt. She SINGS an off-tune song she wrote for him at his game, and it didn't rhyme and it's so bad. She humbled herself okay.
And reading Axl's POV when she did that is very devastating. He didn't find that cute at all, he finds that annoying and because that's his only chance with NHL since they're watching him and she pulled that nasty stunt. Everyone in the crowd cheered for him to kiss her.
She humiliated herself for him. And yeah, he melted even when wants her to stop.
Maybe he did find that stunt singing annoying, but he accepted her back because he knows his heart can't break from the strings attached. But still, that's so sad to know that he didn't like her singing that ugly song at all. She humbled herself for him but yeah, I guess he's pretty mad at her to find that funny. Luckily, he accepted her when she's done singing that song Infront of everyone.
He's not like those hockey players in another book. He's not rich but he works hard. He's not hot-tempered grumpy who beats up every guy that's looking at her girl like every other book boyfriends. He's just a cutie.
This book doesn't contain much chapters. There are only 21 chapters and 2 Epilogues that's cute af and it's great for light readings that just want a book to giggles. There's no swearing or spice, just two cute people.
“I’ll love you. Not flawlessly as I’m not without my faults, but I’ll give you my everything.” - Axl to Sophie in Epilogue <3
OW / OM DRAMA no
CHEATING no
THIRD-ACT BREAKUP yes
ENDING HEA──two cute epilogues
POV dual / first person POV
SPICE LEVEL 0.4 / 5
RATING 3.5 / 5
There'll be no more games.
“But if you do,” I say, lowering my voice into a warning, “it changes this whole thing. We can’t circle back to a talking stage, and I don’t do situationships that neither of us understand. No more faking it.
If you kiss me, you're mine.”
MAIN CHARACTERS' NAME
Sophie Summers | Axl Erikson
FEATURES
• Sunshine / Sunshine
• Golden retriever / Golden retriever
• Hockey romance
• Hockey / pop star
• Fake dating
• Forced Proximity
• Revenge
• Taking advantage
REVIEW
I feel so bad for Axl omg. He had no idea.
At first, they both agreed to fake date and just take some pictures to help Axl careers to get into NHL. Sophie agreed because she just got cheated on her ex boyfriend publicly and her ex is NHL player actually. So she gained some popularity from her ex.
Man, Axl is such a cutie. He worked really hard and always in his mind, he wanted to be NHL star. And when he entered Sophie's rich life, he immediately dreamt of wanting one and all. He's such a gentleman!
So they both had settled those fake dates. Then Bill, one of Axl's staff if I'm not mistaken, made an agreement with Sophie to sign another contract. Which is to make them both kiss, without Axl's knowledge.
Sophie HAD to agree because her career is at loss so yeah. She invited him for dinner with her family and he immediately bonded with her family as he never really had a family before because his parents are always busy. And Bill will take photos of them to post later.
Both of them kissed that night and just like the quote stated, they both dated. And they both fell in love.
Axl had a game after that, and he was so cute. The cuteness is to the point he gave his extra jersey to Sophie so she'll wear it. And she did. And to Axl's surprised, he got distracted and his game was at loss.
He was so devastated that he didn't meet Sophie after that game. Instead, Bill confronted him and admit everything. He told him that everything was a stunt, and he needed to stop because he's getting distracted.
When Axl knew about Sophie's and Bill's agreement, obviously he's devastated. And they had a confrontation and that was very SAD.
But Sophie, who have start growing feelings and knowing that Axl said he wouldn't forgive her is very sad to her, she immediately pull a new stunt. She SINGS an off-tune song she wrote for him at his game, and it didn't rhyme and it's so bad. She humbled herself okay.
And reading Axl's POV when she did that is very devastating. He didn't find that cute at all, he finds that annoying and because that's his only chance with NHL since they're watching him and she pulled that nasty stunt. Everyone in the crowd cheered for him to kiss her.
She humiliated herself for him. And yeah, he melted even when wants her to stop.
Maybe he did find that stunt singing annoying, but he accepted her back because he knows his heart can't break from the strings attached. But still, that's so sad to know that he didn't like her singing that ugly song at all. She humbled herself for him but yeah, I guess he's pretty mad at her to find that funny. Luckily, he accepted her when she's done singing that song Infront of everyone.
He's not like those hockey players in another book. He's not rich but he works hard. He's not hot-tempered grumpy who beats up every guy that's looking at her girl like every other book boyfriends. He's just a cutie.
This book doesn't contain much chapters. There are only 21 chapters and 2 Epilogues that's cute af and it's great for light readings that just want a book to giggles. There's no swearing or spice, just two cute people.
“I’ll love you. Not flawlessly as I’m not without my faults, but I’ll give you my everything.” - Axl to Sophie in Epilogue <3
OW / OM DRAMA no
CHEATING no
THIRD-ACT BREAKUP yes
ENDING HEA──two cute epilogues
POV dual / first person POV
SPICE LEVEL 0.4 / 5
RATING 3.5 / 5
July 3, 2025
The Pucker-Up Pact is J.P. Sterling’s first book in her new Sweet Hockey Romcom series. It is a fake-dating hockey romance set in Mapleton, Vermont, which was also the setting for another series by this author. The story is told in alternating POV from Sophie and Axl. There are no sex scenes or profanity.
Axl Erikson is a talented hockey player with a short fuse and the inability to keep his thoughts to himself. Shortly after joining the Granite Ice, a brand-new AHL team in Mapleton, Vermont, he mouths off at a referee during a home game and gets into trouble with his team management. They tell him that he has no chance of moving up to the NHL or even staying on their team if he doesn’t get control of his temper and become more engaged with the fans. The team owner concocts a plan for Axl to fake-date a famous singer so that he can be adopted by her fanbase, similar to Taylor Swift boosting attendance at NFL games after she began dating Travis Kelce. Axl has no interest in dating until he meets the beautiful Sophie; he has been 100% focused on his hockey career.
Sophie Summers is a Taylor Swift-esque singer who fought the odds (and naysayers) to be successful. She left her hometown of Mapleton, Vermont for the bright lights. After she catches her boyfriend of one year, Rocco, cheating on her, she runs home to Mapleton to hide from the paparazzi. When the management of the town’s new AHL franchise approaches her about helping them with some publicity, she isn’t interested. They convince her to do it to get revenge on Rocco, who’s also a pro hockey player. She’s very surprised to find herself attracted to Axl, the player who she’s supposed to fake-date.
The Pucker-Up Pact seems like a Hallmark version of a Taylor Swift-hockey player fake-dating relationship. There’s good chemistry and witty banter between Axl and Sophie, and they help each other to become better versions of themselves. It’s a sweet and clean romance perfect for young adults and new adults. Mature readers will be more cynical of the insta-love between Axl and Sophie.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Axl Erikson is a talented hockey player with a short fuse and the inability to keep his thoughts to himself. Shortly after joining the Granite Ice, a brand-new AHL team in Mapleton, Vermont, he mouths off at a referee during a home game and gets into trouble with his team management. They tell him that he has no chance of moving up to the NHL or even staying on their team if he doesn’t get control of his temper and become more engaged with the fans. The team owner concocts a plan for Axl to fake-date a famous singer so that he can be adopted by her fanbase, similar to Taylor Swift boosting attendance at NFL games after she began dating Travis Kelce. Axl has no interest in dating until he meets the beautiful Sophie; he has been 100% focused on his hockey career.
Sophie Summers is a Taylor Swift-esque singer who fought the odds (and naysayers) to be successful. She left her hometown of Mapleton, Vermont for the bright lights. After she catches her boyfriend of one year, Rocco, cheating on her, she runs home to Mapleton to hide from the paparazzi. When the management of the town’s new AHL franchise approaches her about helping them with some publicity, she isn’t interested. They convince her to do it to get revenge on Rocco, who’s also a pro hockey player. She’s very surprised to find herself attracted to Axl, the player who she’s supposed to fake-date.
The Pucker-Up Pact seems like a Hallmark version of a Taylor Swift-hockey player fake-dating relationship. There’s good chemistry and witty banter between Axl and Sophie, and they help each other to become better versions of themselves. It’s a sweet and clean romance perfect for young adults and new adults. Mature readers will be more cynical of the insta-love between Axl and Sophie.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 3, 2024
The Pucker-Up Pact by J.P. Sterling is the romance story of pop-singer Sopie and hockey player Axl, who get in a fake dating relationship to boost Sophie’s ticket sales and make Axl more likable. But we all know fake dating does not work out the way it is supposed to be. And as I discovered the hockey romances not so long ago, I was very eager to read this book, also because I know J.P. Sterling has a great humorous writing style as well.
From the very first I loved this story! The writing style is very flowing and I could not stop reading. We have dual POV and that writing style is one of my favorites. You get to know both of the characters better this way and I loved how J.P. Sterling made Sophie and Axl characters you come to love. There are some really funny moments in The Pucker-Up Pact and of course swoony ones too. But as fake dating hardly exist, there is also some drama (something like a betrayal), which made the story even more interesting and romantic.
Sophie is a great character, likable and a normal person and she wants to be the best employer for her crew (sounds like a great pop-singer we all know: Taylor Swift). When she runs home after a bad experience, she agrees af first to take some photos with ice hockey player Axl. I just loved how the owner of the hockey team made this and the fake relationship up, that was just hilarious. He is, next to Sophie and Axl, my favorite personage of this story. Axl is a bit grumpy, he lives for his sport and does not want to date anymore. But both agree to some rules and the relationship takes off and they become friends, but it does not take long when both start to feel more. I rooted for them all along. They just belong together. And the ending of this story was just so swoony, I could see it all in my mind.
The Pucker-Up Pact is a sweet cute and adorable book which I enjoyed immensely. It has two great main characters, a swoony story-line, a great flowing writing style, a book I can totally recommend!
And I can’t wait to read more books by J.P. Sterling!
From the very first I loved this story! The writing style is very flowing and I could not stop reading. We have dual POV and that writing style is one of my favorites. You get to know both of the characters better this way and I loved how J.P. Sterling made Sophie and Axl characters you come to love. There are some really funny moments in The Pucker-Up Pact and of course swoony ones too. But as fake dating hardly exist, there is also some drama (something like a betrayal), which made the story even more interesting and romantic.
Sophie is a great character, likable and a normal person and she wants to be the best employer for her crew (sounds like a great pop-singer we all know: Taylor Swift). When she runs home after a bad experience, she agrees af first to take some photos with ice hockey player Axl. I just loved how the owner of the hockey team made this and the fake relationship up, that was just hilarious. He is, next to Sophie and Axl, my favorite personage of this story. Axl is a bit grumpy, he lives for his sport and does not want to date anymore. But both agree to some rules and the relationship takes off and they become friends, but it does not take long when both start to feel more. I rooted for them all along. They just belong together. And the ending of this story was just so swoony, I could see it all in my mind.
The Pucker-Up Pact is a sweet cute and adorable book which I enjoyed immensely. It has two great main characters, a swoony story-line, a great flowing writing style, a book I can totally recommend!
And I can’t wait to read more books by J.P. Sterling!
July 11, 2025
Reading Journal Details
Book: The Pucker-Up Pact by J.P. Sterling
Format Read: Audiobook (~3 hours, 48 minutes)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
My Quick Take Review
A fun, quick hockey romance with just enough plot and heart to satisfy. The Pucker-Up Pact makes for the perfect palate cleanser when you're craving something short, light, and fluffy.
Some Key Features
🏒 Hockey romance
😠 Grumpy x Sunshine trope
👩🎤 Famous singer
📖 Easygoing novella
💬 Dual perspective
My Full Review
A sweet, fluffy novella, The Pucker-Up Pact checked all the right boxes for a quick feel-good romance. For its length, it delivered a solid plot with just enough character depth to keep me interested. Additionally, I also think if it had been a full length novel, instead, it could have easily expanded on both plot and the emotional layers without losing its charm.
I liked the alternating perspectives between Axel and Sophie, it added a nice rhythm to the story. Sophie, in particular, really stood out for me, and I really enjoyed Kasey Miracle's narration of her character. She brought the right warmth, humor, and emotional tone to Sophie's voice, making her instantly likable for me.
That said, I had a harder time connecting with Magnus Carlssen as the narrator for Axel. It wasn't that he didn't do a good job narrating, it was that his voice didn't quite match how I imagined Axel to sound, and that disconnect made it hard for me to fully get into his portions of the audiobook. It wasn't a deal-breaker, but it did affect my overall enjoyment a little.
Narration aside, the story itself worked as it was a fast paced hockey romance with only kissing, no further spice. It's the kind of quick read that's best to pick up when needing something light to break up heavier books or just want a breezy escape for a few hours. If you're into sports romances and want a charming, low commitment, high charm novella, The Pucker-Up Pact is a solid choice.
Thank you Victory Editing, J.P. Sterling, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listener's copy (ALC) of this hockey novella in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
Book: The Pucker-Up Pact by J.P. Sterling
Format Read: Audiobook (~3 hours, 48 minutes)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
My Quick Take Review
A fun, quick hockey romance with just enough plot and heart to satisfy. The Pucker-Up Pact makes for the perfect palate cleanser when you're craving something short, light, and fluffy.
Some Key Features
🏒 Hockey romance
😠 Grumpy x Sunshine trope
👩🎤 Famous singer
📖 Easygoing novella
💬 Dual perspective
My Full Review
A sweet, fluffy novella, The Pucker-Up Pact checked all the right boxes for a quick feel-good romance. For its length, it delivered a solid plot with just enough character depth to keep me interested. Additionally, I also think if it had been a full length novel, instead, it could have easily expanded on both plot and the emotional layers without losing its charm.
I liked the alternating perspectives between Axel and Sophie, it added a nice rhythm to the story. Sophie, in particular, really stood out for me, and I really enjoyed Kasey Miracle's narration of her character. She brought the right warmth, humor, and emotional tone to Sophie's voice, making her instantly likable for me.
That said, I had a harder time connecting with Magnus Carlssen as the narrator for Axel. It wasn't that he didn't do a good job narrating, it was that his voice didn't quite match how I imagined Axel to sound, and that disconnect made it hard for me to fully get into his portions of the audiobook. It wasn't a deal-breaker, but it did affect my overall enjoyment a little.
Narration aside, the story itself worked as it was a fast paced hockey romance with only kissing, no further spice. It's the kind of quick read that's best to pick up when needing something light to break up heavier books or just want a breezy escape for a few hours. If you're into sports romances and want a charming, low commitment, high charm novella, The Pucker-Up Pact is a solid choice.
Thank you Victory Editing, J.P. Sterling, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listener's copy (ALC) of this hockey novella in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
July 10, 2024
Wow! J.P. Sterling gives us the feels and then some in this wholesome , beautiful love story. Axl Erickson lives for the game , eats and sleeps and breathes it because he wants to make it to the NHL . One problem, he needs to keep his hot temper in check to keep from sending his IceHockey career goals down the tubes .Sophie Summers is a famous singing star who has had a very public break up with her ex boyfriend NFL star Rocco when she went home for his birthday to surprise him, she was the one with the surprise ,so she heads home to lick her wounds and heal ,spending time with her family and friends. Axl is in his first year playing centre for a brand new AHL team and things are rocky from the start, losing his temper in terrible fashion with the refs no less is going to keep his dreams from happening if he doesn’t keep it in check …what a mess! The owner of the Granite Ice team has an idea that can boost his good reputation and escalate new fans …” We’re going to help you become popular” “ You are?”….when he organises a publicity photo for him with Sophie Summers gaining her fans too. “ You want me to take a photo with this NICE -Looking man?”…well that’s Sophie sold on the idea…” Can you forward me that picture?”… “ Have you been getting swept off your feet by some hockey player?” Mums……He’s career focused and doesn’t date but one kiss and Sophie seals a pact and now as a matter of fact there most definitely is no going back! Not that he wants to cos he’s had time to mull over his life goals and there’s a Sophie sized hole to fit right in it. He intends to let his heart of ice thaw as he’s ready to soar to dizzy heights with the crowds in uproar as he scores his life’s ultimate goal. Absolutely beautiful story, so cute and funny. Everything Ms Sterling writes is so awesome and sunny, with every stroke of her pen she had me undone with this one. Why shake on it when you can always pucker up? Pukka Read! I’m leaving my review voluntarily and in my own words.
October 12, 2024
There is the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but have you ever given a book a possible pass because the title seems different… that was this book, but mainly because I don’t hear the expression “pucker up” much at my age (38)! My bestie told me about this book back when came out, I added it to my TBR but had no idea when I would read it but that I would eventually because I trust her opinion on books more than anyone! So now I know and happy to be wrong about the title!
Sophie Summers has just had her personal life upended and very publicly too! Her heartbreak is all too much to deal with, so she heads home to the sleepy little town of Mapleton! Family time and a much-needed break from her grueling performing schedule is just what she needed until an awkward knock on her door!
Axl Erickson is the promising center for the Granite Ice hockey team based out of Mapleton! Knowing that he must prove himself to everyone that he’s more than a hothead and even hotter temper won’t be easy… so when his coach and team owner come to him with a plan, he can’t help but laugh! Their plan is to find him a fake girlfriend to soften his image and gain more attention by fans to help sell tickets! Everyone wins- easier said than done!
While this book hits you hard with some of the emotions, the heart of it is something warm and gooey! The hockey bad boy who refuses to date and the pop star who’s trying to regain her sense of self-worth as well as self-confidence may have had an uphill battle, but their ride came to a smooth ending! Axl and Sophie are much more similar than they first appear, and it allows them to build a solid connection despite the ruse! This was my first book by J.P. Sterling, and I look forward to what other hidden gems she has in her backlist! Bravo!
Sophie Summers has just had her personal life upended and very publicly too! Her heartbreak is all too much to deal with, so she heads home to the sleepy little town of Mapleton! Family time and a much-needed break from her grueling performing schedule is just what she needed until an awkward knock on her door!
Axl Erickson is the promising center for the Granite Ice hockey team based out of Mapleton! Knowing that he must prove himself to everyone that he’s more than a hothead and even hotter temper won’t be easy… so when his coach and team owner come to him with a plan, he can’t help but laugh! Their plan is to find him a fake girlfriend to soften his image and gain more attention by fans to help sell tickets! Everyone wins- easier said than done!
While this book hits you hard with some of the emotions, the heart of it is something warm and gooey! The hockey bad boy who refuses to date and the pop star who’s trying to regain her sense of self-worth as well as self-confidence may have had an uphill battle, but their ride came to a smooth ending! Axl and Sophie are much more similar than they first appear, and it allows them to build a solid connection despite the ruse! This was my first book by J.P. Sterling, and I look forward to what other hidden gems she has in her backlist! Bravo!
July 14, 2024
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you pick up a copy of The Pucker-Up Pact and here are 5 reasons why...
1️⃣ The book is novella size! I don't know about you but I am willing to bet you are BUSY this summer and sometimes trying to get into a new book can be a challenge because finding time to read in general is a challenge. This book will get you in, out, and on with life WITHOUT skipping out on all the feels we want when reading a romance book.
2️⃣ CHEMISTRY IS FIREEEEE between the two main characters, Sophie and Axl. I absolutely LOVE that they both were complete strangers who agreed to fake date each other, so when you get their first meet POV get ready to melt!!
3️⃣ I love books that tend to follow how things would happen in real life, and don't overly fictionalize the "tough stuff" because it's a book. This is probably the main reason I absolutely ADORE JP Sterling as an author is because she can write deep, awful feelings without sugar coating it or drawing it out for word count. These two individuals have hurts that run deep and so even though the instant chemistry is there, it's not like they are also "instantly in love."
4️⃣ Family. The family moments in this book bring a depth to both characters that just fills your heart to overflowing. Whether its getting a town (and wild monkey) story from dad, or plotting a water gun fight with brother, Sophie's family brings out a warmth in Axl that makes him that much more HOT!
5️⃣ Axl. This MMC is a jaded hottie with a body hockey player that just oozes secret romantic. Once he allows himself to accept what is, and what could be, his possessiveness to not her but in defining and protecting the new relationship is serious MMC goals! (Ummmm... his lips are still something I can imagine when I close my eyes 🤣)
1️⃣ The book is novella size! I don't know about you but I am willing to bet you are BUSY this summer and sometimes trying to get into a new book can be a challenge because finding time to read in general is a challenge. This book will get you in, out, and on with life WITHOUT skipping out on all the feels we want when reading a romance book.
2️⃣ CHEMISTRY IS FIREEEEE between the two main characters, Sophie and Axl. I absolutely LOVE that they both were complete strangers who agreed to fake date each other, so when you get their first meet POV get ready to melt!!
3️⃣ I love books that tend to follow how things would happen in real life, and don't overly fictionalize the "tough stuff" because it's a book. This is probably the main reason I absolutely ADORE JP Sterling as an author is because she can write deep, awful feelings without sugar coating it or drawing it out for word count. These two individuals have hurts that run deep and so even though the instant chemistry is there, it's not like they are also "instantly in love."
4️⃣ Family. The family moments in this book bring a depth to both characters that just fills your heart to overflowing. Whether its getting a town (and wild monkey) story from dad, or plotting a water gun fight with brother, Sophie's family brings out a warmth in Axl that makes him that much more HOT!
5️⃣ Axl. This MMC is a jaded hottie with a body hockey player that just oozes secret romantic. Once he allows himself to accept what is, and what could be, his possessiveness to not her but in defining and protecting the new relationship is serious MMC goals! (Ummmm... his lips are still something I can imagine when I close my eyes 🤣)
August 19, 2025
𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:
Yes, please! This is a cute fake dating sweet hockey romance. This is a perfect pallet cleanser if you are chasing that HEA high, and want a book full of banter that will make you lol. It will give you all the feels especially with the extra grumpy MMC who needs the sunshiny FMC to help him with his image. It’s the perfect blend and don’t fret there is plenty of steamy kisses that you won’t even miss the spice.
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Axl is a star hockey center for an AHL team but he’ll never make it to the next level as he has a major image issue. So Granite Ice’s management team has come up with a plan to make him more “likable”. They are going to find a well liked celebrity for him to “date”. He doesn’t like the plan but the chances of them finding someone in Mapleton to agree to this plan is slim so he agrees.
Sophie is a singer and she had a break in her tour so she went to surprise her BF, but she discovered another woman. Of course the paparazzi caught her and the discovery so now her relationship ending has gone viral. So she did the only thing that made sense she fled home to Mapleton, Vermont to lay low cause no one’s care about her status there.
Sophie is approached by the owner of a hockey team with a unique proposition and she actually agrees to fake date a stranger. That’s how Axl and Sophie ended up dating! The funny part is they have insta attraction and things quickly escalate from fake to real but there are secrets that could destroy everything.
𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“I’ll love you. Not flawlessly as I’m not without my faults, but I’ll give you my everything.”
𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:
* Star Center Hockey Player MMC
* Famous Singer FMC
* Fake Dating for Revenge
* He has an Image Problem
* She was Just Cheated On Publicly
* Forced Proximity
* Mapleton, Vermont
* Dual POV - Sweet No Spice
💕🎶🎤💕🏒🧊🎶🎤💕🏒🧊💕
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNij4l2um...
Yes, please! This is a cute fake dating sweet hockey romance. This is a perfect pallet cleanser if you are chasing that HEA high, and want a book full of banter that will make you lol. It will give you all the feels especially with the extra grumpy MMC who needs the sunshiny FMC to help him with his image. It’s the perfect blend and don’t fret there is plenty of steamy kisses that you won’t even miss the spice.
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Axl is a star hockey center for an AHL team but he’ll never make it to the next level as he has a major image issue. So Granite Ice’s management team has come up with a plan to make him more “likable”. They are going to find a well liked celebrity for him to “date”. He doesn’t like the plan but the chances of them finding someone in Mapleton to agree to this plan is slim so he agrees.
Sophie is a singer and she had a break in her tour so she went to surprise her BF, but she discovered another woman. Of course the paparazzi caught her and the discovery so now her relationship ending has gone viral. So she did the only thing that made sense she fled home to Mapleton, Vermont to lay low cause no one’s care about her status there.
Sophie is approached by the owner of a hockey team with a unique proposition and she actually agrees to fake date a stranger. That’s how Axl and Sophie ended up dating! The funny part is they have insta attraction and things quickly escalate from fake to real but there are secrets that could destroy everything.
𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
“I’ll love you. Not flawlessly as I’m not without my faults, but I’ll give you my everything.”
𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:
* Star Center Hockey Player MMC
* Famous Singer FMC
* Fake Dating for Revenge
* He has an Image Problem
* She was Just Cheated On Publicly
* Forced Proximity
* Mapleton, Vermont
* Dual POV - Sweet No Spice
💕🎶🎤💕🏒🧊🎶🎤💕🏒🧊💕
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNij4l2um...
June 30, 2025
Axl is a minor league hockey player with dreams of making it big. Sophie is a pop star who just had her heart very publicly broken. Their paths would have never crossed if it weren't for a team owner who decided that the best way to clean up his player's reputation and get people in the stadium was to stage a relationship between the grumpy player and the popular, heartbroken singer. But things don't feel fake when they're together, and what started as fake quickly starts to feel more real than anything else.
It's a sweet, clean romance that's all about understanding and friendship leading to romance. The fake relationship aspect is what brings them together, but we don't really see a lot of fake anything because the opportunities to do that are almost nil. Aside from a couple of times where Sophie is seen supporting Axl's games and one short-lived appearance together, there aren't a lot of the fun parts of seeing them stressing about appearing to be dating around other people. Those are my favorite scenes in a fake dating story, and we don't get nearly enough of that. What we do get is a lot of talking and understanding as friendship blooms between two people who are obviously meant to be together. Ont exactly the fun of fake dating, but heartfelt and sweet nonetheless.
Kasey Miracle and Magnus Carlssen do a solid job narrating and giving the characters life. YOu can hear the emotions in their voices and it makes the story fly by as if you're hearing a fun story told by the couple who lived it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the entertaining listen.
It's a sweet, clean romance that's all about understanding and friendship leading to romance. The fake relationship aspect is what brings them together, but we don't really see a lot of fake anything because the opportunities to do that are almost nil. Aside from a couple of times where Sophie is seen supporting Axl's games and one short-lived appearance together, there aren't a lot of the fun parts of seeing them stressing about appearing to be dating around other people. Those are my favorite scenes in a fake dating story, and we don't get nearly enough of that. What we do get is a lot of talking and understanding as friendship blooms between two people who are obviously meant to be together. Ont exactly the fun of fake dating, but heartfelt and sweet nonetheless.
Kasey Miracle and Magnus Carlssen do a solid job narrating and giving the characters life. YOu can hear the emotions in their voices and it makes the story fly by as if you're hearing a fun story told by the couple who lived it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the entertaining listen.
August 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this super quick read sports romance novella.
I hadn't realised that this was only a novella as I never read blurbs before reading the book, so was a little shocked to see that it was just over 180 pages long - but loved that I could power through this over the course of just one morning and enjoy the full story in one sitting.
This is the first book in a series of similar short reads - The Fast And The Flirty series - all based in the world of ice hockey.
It's the first book in this series that I've read and also my first read by this author too.
This story had everything you'd expect from a great sports romance - even down to the almost third act break-up which I wasn't expecting in such a short read.
I loved that this familiar format was used and that there was still plenty of time to become immersed in the storyline.
Our main characters were easy to connect with and they were likable too.
Although Sophie was already famous, we get to see more of her personal and family life rather than the glamour and fame, so this kept her grounded and relatable still.
It was pretty obvious that the fake relationship that Sophie and Axl fall into - to help their respective careers - was going to lead to much more and if was great to watch as this developed.
Obviously we don't get super deep on the characters lives, but there was plenty of backstory to endear us to them both.
A great little quick read that I raced through!
I'm definitely going to look into getting hold of the rest of the series now!
Loved this!
I hadn't realised that this was only a novella as I never read blurbs before reading the book, so was a little shocked to see that it was just over 180 pages long - but loved that I could power through this over the course of just one morning and enjoy the full story in one sitting.
This is the first book in a series of similar short reads - The Fast And The Flirty series - all based in the world of ice hockey.
It's the first book in this series that I've read and also my first read by this author too.
This story had everything you'd expect from a great sports romance - even down to the almost third act break-up which I wasn't expecting in such a short read.
I loved that this familiar format was used and that there was still plenty of time to become immersed in the storyline.
Our main characters were easy to connect with and they were likable too.
Although Sophie was already famous, we get to see more of her personal and family life rather than the glamour and fame, so this kept her grounded and relatable still.
It was pretty obvious that the fake relationship that Sophie and Axl fall into - to help their respective careers - was going to lead to much more and if was great to watch as this developed.
Obviously we don't get super deep on the characters lives, but there was plenty of backstory to endear us to them both.
A great little quick read that I raced through!
I'm definitely going to look into getting hold of the rest of the series now!
Loved this!
July 9, 2024
Axl is a hockey player who takes his training and his career very seriously. He doesn't like to go out and party, using that time instead to get in extra training. He was cheated on in high school so he's also very closed off to dating. Grumpy and has an attitude which I love but the coach and team owner wants him to be more likeable.
Sophie is a famous pop singer who has also been cheated on by Rocco, a football player in the NFL. After cancelling the last couple of tour dates due to the cheating scandal, she is struggling to pay her crew the bonuses they deserve.
Enter fake dating to boost both of their images and their careers!
For being a very short read, I thought this was super fun!! If the author ever wanted to expand on this story, I would be there to read it for sure because there was definitely some things I wanted more details of - specifically when Sophie confronted Rocco cheating on her and more info on Axl because I love him! I don't know why but this whole story made me feel like I was in an episode of Friday Night Lights even though they aren't even the same story 😂 It gave it a really comforting feel because I was picturing the team owner as Buddy Garrity 😂
If you read this, understand that it is under 200 pages so everything happens quick and a lot of details are left out. Just go into it for fun!
Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Sophie is a famous pop singer who has also been cheated on by Rocco, a football player in the NFL. After cancelling the last couple of tour dates due to the cheating scandal, she is struggling to pay her crew the bonuses they deserve.
Enter fake dating to boost both of their images and their careers!
For being a very short read, I thought this was super fun!! If the author ever wanted to expand on this story, I would be there to read it for sure because there was definitely some things I wanted more details of - specifically when Sophie confronted Rocco cheating on her and more info on Axl because I love him! I don't know why but this whole story made me feel like I was in an episode of Friday Night Lights even though they aren't even the same story 😂 It gave it a really comforting feel because I was picturing the team owner as Buddy Garrity 😂
If you read this, understand that it is under 200 pages so everything happens quick and a lot of details are left out. Just go into it for fun!
Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
October 18, 2025
Okay, so I picked this up expecting a cute, sportsy rom-com with a fake dating twist — and The Pucker-Up Pact totally delivered. Think grumpy hockey player + sunshiney pop star thrown together for some PR spin, and it just works. The chemistry was off the charts and the banter was chef’s kiss. And the “she’s mine” protective streak? Absolutely swoon-worthy.
Our broody AHL center starts off rough around the edges — you know the type: focused on the game, allergic to emotions, would rather drop gloves than talk feelings. But once Sophie enters the picture with her sassy charm and megawatt smile? Game over. Their fake relationship setup turns into some seriously real tension, and I found myself smiling like a dork during several scenes (bonus points if you're listening on audio — the narration brings the flirt to life so well!).
I loved that this stayed sweet without swearing or steam — it still had plenty of spice through tension and feels, but kept things clean. Also, shout-out to the emotional twist near the end — didn’t see that coming, and it gave the story some real depth.
If you're into hockey, fake dating, slow-burn build-ups, and a guaranteed happily ever after, you’ll have fun with this one. It's like a Hallmark movie with a sharper edge and a better playlist.
A super fun, bingeable listen!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Our broody AHL center starts off rough around the edges — you know the type: focused on the game, allergic to emotions, would rather drop gloves than talk feelings. But once Sophie enters the picture with her sassy charm and megawatt smile? Game over. Their fake relationship setup turns into some seriously real tension, and I found myself smiling like a dork during several scenes (bonus points if you're listening on audio — the narration brings the flirt to life so well!).
I loved that this stayed sweet without swearing or steam — it still had plenty of spice through tension and feels, but kept things clean. Also, shout-out to the emotional twist near the end — didn’t see that coming, and it gave the story some real depth.
If you're into hockey, fake dating, slow-burn build-ups, and a guaranteed happily ever after, you’ll have fun with this one. It's like a Hallmark movie with a sharper edge and a better playlist.
A super fun, bingeable listen!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
July 2, 2024
This was a new author for me and seeing the tropes on instagram, I knew I had to get my hands on this book!
While this is a sweeter romance than I am used to, it was a nice change up. The characters seemed wholesome and thought out. I love a good hockey romance, and this one was a good one.
Some downsides for me that led to my 3 stars was the length. I’m a firm believer that books under 200 pages don’t allow for the story to truly take hold in the way that they should; and unfortunately this book didn’t change that belief. I so wanted to fall in love with this book, but everything just felt super rushed. I wasn’t able to truly grasp who Axl and Sophie were as characters, and it seemed that they met, had a deal, a conflict, and resolution within seconds; we didn’t even learn anything about Axl’s personal life (friends, family, teammates).
Now, don’t get me wrong, I DID like this book. It has HUGE potential to be so good for a lot of readers, I just wish it was longer and we had more time to get to know the characters separately and together.
Likes…
•wholesome characters
•the “Traylor” undertones were a fun touch 😉
•sweet romance
•hockey romance
•fake relationship
•no OW/OM drama that took over
Dislikes…
•too short in length
•didn’t get the time to get to know the characters more
If you like a short, sweet romance that gets right to the point, this one is for you!
While this is a sweeter romance than I am used to, it was a nice change up. The characters seemed wholesome and thought out. I love a good hockey romance, and this one was a good one.
Some downsides for me that led to my 3 stars was the length. I’m a firm believer that books under 200 pages don’t allow for the story to truly take hold in the way that they should; and unfortunately this book didn’t change that belief. I so wanted to fall in love with this book, but everything just felt super rushed. I wasn’t able to truly grasp who Axl and Sophie were as characters, and it seemed that they met, had a deal, a conflict, and resolution within seconds; we didn’t even learn anything about Axl’s personal life (friends, family, teammates).
Now, don’t get me wrong, I DID like this book. It has HUGE potential to be so good for a lot of readers, I just wish it was longer and we had more time to get to know the characters separately and together.
Likes…
•wholesome characters
•the “Traylor” undertones were a fun touch 😉
•sweet romance
•hockey romance
•fake relationship
•no OW/OM drama that took over
Dislikes…
•too short in length
•didn’t get the time to get to know the characters more
If you like a short, sweet romance that gets right to the point, this one is for you!
July 9, 2025
Axl and Sophie’s story is entertaining, heartwarming and gripping. Both have reason to be wary of love and relationships. Neither expected their fake relationship to lead to very real feelings. I loved the two characters …the Hockey Pro, Axl and Pop Star, Sophie. The grumpy/sunshine and fake relationship tropes are two of my favourites and this author has handled both rather deftly. Axl is most definitely a grumpy, growly guy, who doesn’t relate well with the fans and prefers to keep his life outside of hockey, private. He doesn’t want the limelight, he just wants to play hockey. The fake relationship with Sophie is supposed to gain him fans and hopefully make him more likeable and approachable. Sophie is comfortable in the limelight, is adored by her fans and is not above getting back at her cheating ex through fake dating handsome, hot hockey player. Her sunshine personality grates on Axel’s nerves until it doesn’t. The attraction between them proves to be irresistible and before they know it the flame is lit and both are in deeper than they planned. Turns out the hot alpha male hockey player has a heart underneath all the grumpy growliness and the sexy, sunshiny Sophie has claimed it. This is not a spicy read, but rather a sweet and romantic one. Enjoy
I am happy to recommend this delightful book.
I am happy to recommend this delightful book.
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