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The Trade Deadline
After a fleeting encounter when they’re in Juniors, Ryan “RJ” Russell and Lars Nilsson find themselves thrown back together years later when they end up on the same NHL team. Being friendly to a new teammate just got way more complicated. It’s one thing to have a one night stand with someone from another country; it’s a whole other mess to sleep with your teammate. Neither of them can afford to make waves, not when Ryan needs a new contract and Lars is already escaping a scandal. If sparks fly again, can they resist temptation?
477 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2024
101 people are currently reading
2810 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Heard
18 books180 followersAshley, pen name A.L. Heard, fandom name jhoom, is a 34 year old teacher, writer, and mother of two little boys. She’s been writing fanworks since she discovered ff.net back in her middle school days; the platform has changed and the writing’s improved, but Ashley ultimately still spends her free time writing about characters she adores in worlds she’d like to explore. Her first novel, Hockey Bois, was published in 2021. In between writing projects, she works as a language teacher in the Pittsburgh area, plays hockey, and plays trains with her sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
August 16, 2025
reread Aug '25
Still love this just as much as I did the first time around ❤️ not only one of my favourite hockey romances, but one of my favourite romances full stop 🥰
This is one of those books that never fails to draw me in and make me forget the rest of the world exists while I'm reading it.
“You’re staring again,” Ryan said when they were alone in the locker room waiting for the showers to free up.
“I can’t help it. You’re hot.” He enjoyed watching Ryan’s cheeks brighten. “I’m just annoyed that eighteen-year-old me got to fuck you, and he barely knew what he was doing. Imagine what I could do to you—”
“Jesus,” Ryan muttered as Vorny and Pavel sauntered in. The illusion of privacy vanished with their loud arrival.
First read Oct '24
I had such a fun time with this book! I was just smiling like an idiot throughout most of it.
This book has also opened me up to a fun new micro trope I didn’t know I would be so feral for. Lars and Ryan hooking up when they meet in Juniors for a one night stand and then when they meet again 7 years later Lars not remembering who Ryan is?? Chef kiss 🤌🏻 Amazing. I was gnashing my teeth waiting for the inevitable pay off of him realizing what a fool he had been. Also Ryan letting Lars call him Brian for weeks because he was too polite to correct him is hilarious cause honestly same 😂.
Also secret whispered love confessions in another language. Double chefs kiss. Delicious. Also the fact that Lars and Ryan were verse is kind of novel to read but I loved that for them.
I enjoyed that this story had layers and it wasn’t just about the core romance. Lars unpacking his complicated relationship with his brother was really lovely and Ryan learning to have some confidence in himself was also really satisfying to see.
(Also I laughed so hard reading through the Swedish glossary at the back and you could immediately see what lines were between Lars and Anders as opposed to Lars and Ryan 😂 now I see why his grandmother scolded him for his language 😂).
There is a bit of third act angst as well as some mentions of homophobia but honestly it’s pretty mild and mainly speaking to the institutionalized elements of it rather than much on page commentary.
I’m excited to read more by this author. I wish I could go back and just read this for the first time again.
Still love this just as much as I did the first time around ❤️ not only one of my favourite hockey romances, but one of my favourite romances full stop 🥰
This is one of those books that never fails to draw me in and make me forget the rest of the world exists while I'm reading it.
“You’re staring again,” Ryan said when they were alone in the locker room waiting for the showers to free up.
“I can’t help it. You’re hot.” He enjoyed watching Ryan’s cheeks brighten. “I’m just annoyed that eighteen-year-old me got to fuck you, and he barely knew what he was doing. Imagine what I could do to you—”
“Jesus,” Ryan muttered as Vorny and Pavel sauntered in. The illusion of privacy vanished with their loud arrival.
First read Oct '24
I had such a fun time with this book! I was just smiling like an idiot throughout most of it.
This book has also opened me up to a fun new micro trope I didn’t know I would be so feral for. Lars and Ryan hooking up when they meet in Juniors for a one night stand and then when they meet again 7 years later Lars not remembering who Ryan is?? Chef kiss 🤌🏻 Amazing. I was gnashing my teeth waiting for the inevitable pay off of him realizing what a fool he had been. Also Ryan letting Lars call him Brian for weeks because he was too polite to correct him is hilarious cause honestly same 😂.
Also secret whispered love confessions in another language. Double chefs kiss. Delicious. Also the fact that Lars and Ryan were verse is kind of novel to read but I loved that for them.
I enjoyed that this story had layers and it wasn’t just about the core romance. Lars unpacking his complicated relationship with his brother was really lovely and Ryan learning to have some confidence in himself was also really satisfying to see.
(Also I laughed so hard reading through the Swedish glossary at the back and you could immediately see what lines were between Lars and Anders as opposed to Lars and Ryan 😂 now I see why his grandmother scolded him for his language 😂).
There is a bit of third act angst as well as some mentions of homophobia but honestly it’s pretty mild and mainly speaking to the institutionalized elements of it rather than much on page commentary.
I’m excited to read more by this author. I wish I could go back and just read this for the first time again.
September 15, 2025
Hands down one of the best sports romances I’ve ever read when it comes to hockey! Buckle up, this is going to be LONG.
Granted, I haven’t read many of them, but The Trade Deadline was such a treat. And while it wasn’t a perfect book for me, many aspects made me go feral, and I almost couldn’t put it down.
The dual third-person narrative truly worked for me, especially as I appreciated both Ryan and Lars as the main characters of this story. The premise had me a bit apprehensive at first - a drunken hookup seven years ago, only one of them remembers? Sounds a bit cheesy. Pfff! Guys, I had so much fun with that, you don’t even know! When Lars got traded into Ryan’s team and had no damn idea that he had sex with Ryan in Juniors, while Ryan remembered everything? That shit had me kicking my feet and giggling and gnawing at my knuckles, SO GOOD! 😩 The hints Ryan continuously dropped that went over Lars’ head?? Golden 😂 It’s the kind of misunderstanding that worked perfectly. And I loved the first half of the book precisely because of that build-up to THE revelation - though I definitely didn’t expect it to be revealed so early into the story.
The hockey!! It’s not there as a simple background to tick off the “sport” in the sports romance genre, as many authors tend to do (and many readers prefer, which is fine!). The last time I was so thrilled for a game was while reading about Exy! Wild, considering I’m not even a hockey fan despite hockey being such a deep-rooted part of my country’s culture.
When it comes to the characters themselves, I have so much to say, wow. First we have Ryan Russell - yes, I picked a favourite again lol. A nice anxious guy with low self-esteem, struggling with recognition of his self-worth, unable to stick up for himself and being his own advocate. And he was so painfully relatable because you get overlooked - or in this case traded - enough, you start to internalize the fact that apparently, you’re not worth keeping. He immediately woke up my mama bear instincts. And I understand that his self-deprecating attitude can be frustrating to some, but BOY DO I GET HIM! 🙈
Then we have Lars Nelsson, and that’s were things will get a bit more complicated for me. He’s such a layered character, incredibly well-written, objectively more fleshed out than Ryan (which is why I think he was the author’s favorite; he did get more page-time when it comes to his issues). He’s kind and generous and looked at Ryan and saw how amazing he is, and I loved how staunch a supporter he was.
He’s also spoiled and can be petty and hurtful when he gets defensive, especially when it comes to his abandonment issues - which would be fine, I like flawed characters. But.
When it comes to their relationship, that’s where it failed in making the book a total five-star read for me. I enjoyed their progress (though them hooking up at 50 percent was way too soon for me, sorry not sorry, I’m a slowburn girlie - that’s why I ended up skimming most of the sex scenes, because the sexual chemistry kinda disappeared for me once they got “together”), and when the third-act breakup came, it was actually believable and hurt in a very satisfying way.
It’s the fallout after that point that left me unsatisfied. Specifically Lars. Because Ryan was hurting and it was he who suffered the consequences of the fallout the most, but Lars made it completely about himself and fucked it up.
Which would be fine, I love that kind of drama - IF THERE WAS SOME GROVELING AND APOLOGIZING AFTER. And you know what? Nothing. Nada. Not one apology from Lars to Ryan came. We saw inside Lars’ head, so we knew he was miserable, but what good is that for Ryan?
And it was actually Ryan who continued to reach out, to try to make it work, to make an effort, while Lars was purely reactionary. You don’t even UNDERSTAND how frustrating that is for me because at the end of the day, such a relationship feels imbalanced, and it subconsciously exploits Ryan’s self-esteem issues - because of fucking course he’ll make an effort, right? He doesn’t even NEED an apology, why would he?? I don’t mind when characters fuck up - I mind when I don’t see the consequences for them 😠
And it makes me wonder, if Ryan didn’t make that effort, would they even be together in the end? I’m kind of in doubt about that. I seriously hope Lars will work on that because otherwise, I’ll come and take Ryan away from him, and he can have his temper tantrum for all I care 😒😅 Don’t get me wrong, he clearly loves Ryan! But we know that mainly because it’s dual POV, because the on-page effort is precisely zero, in my opinion.
Don’t even get me started on how, instead of having a conversation, they continued to just fuck and avoid talking about anything important. Dudes 🙄 I definitely prefer my characters with a smidgen more emotional maturity, I think. It WAS in-character for them, but I wasn't amused.
...well then! I had things to get off my chest, sorry about that! 😅 Despite my grievances with Lars, he truly is a greatly written character, I just don’t have a great love for him - I grudgingly accept his place at Ryan’s side, and I’m WATCHING 👀🤨
There’s also one big aspect I absolutely loved - Lars’ complicated relationship with his older brother Anders. I loved the resolution at the end, and I’m such an Anders fangirl (that stoic but protective older brother vibe gets me going 🔥), I couldn’t be happier about how it all played out between them!
I was honestly contemplating slapping the five-star rating simply for how much in a chokehold this book had me, but there are too many things that bothered me. Still, an AMAZING read when it comes to hockey romance that contains actual hockey! Thank you, Evie, for convincing me I had to read this, you were right, of course ❤️
(Any other similar recs?? Though not Heated Rivalry, pretty please!)
Granted, I haven’t read many of them, but The Trade Deadline was such a treat. And while it wasn’t a perfect book for me, many aspects made me go feral, and I almost couldn’t put it down.
The dual third-person narrative truly worked for me, especially as I appreciated both Ryan and Lars as the main characters of this story. The premise had me a bit apprehensive at first - a drunken hookup seven years ago, only one of them remembers? Sounds a bit cheesy. Pfff! Guys, I had so much fun with that, you don’t even know! When Lars got traded into Ryan’s team and had no damn idea that he had sex with Ryan in Juniors, while Ryan remembered everything? That shit had me kicking my feet and giggling and gnawing at my knuckles, SO GOOD! 😩 The hints Ryan continuously dropped that went over Lars’ head?? Golden 😂 It’s the kind of misunderstanding that worked perfectly. And I loved the first half of the book precisely because of that build-up to THE revelation - though I definitely didn’t expect it to be revealed so early into the story.
The hockey!! It’s not there as a simple background to tick off the “sport” in the sports romance genre, as many authors tend to do (and many readers prefer, which is fine!). The last time I was so thrilled for a game was while reading about Exy! Wild, considering I’m not even a hockey fan despite hockey being such a deep-rooted part of my country’s culture.
When it comes to the characters themselves, I have so much to say, wow. First we have Ryan Russell - yes, I picked a favourite again lol. A nice anxious guy with low self-esteem, struggling with recognition of his self-worth, unable to stick up for himself and being his own advocate. And he was so painfully relatable because you get overlooked - or in this case traded - enough, you start to internalize the fact that apparently, you’re not worth keeping. He immediately woke up my mama bear instincts. And I understand that his self-deprecating attitude can be frustrating to some, but BOY DO I GET HIM! 🙈
Then we have Lars Nelsson, and that’s were things will get a bit more complicated for me. He’s such a layered character, incredibly well-written, objectively more fleshed out than Ryan (which is why I think he was the author’s favorite; he did get more page-time when it comes to his issues). He’s kind and generous and looked at Ryan and saw how amazing he is, and I loved how staunch a supporter he was.
He’s also spoiled and can be petty and hurtful when he gets defensive, especially when it comes to his abandonment issues - which would be fine, I like flawed characters. But.
When it comes to their relationship, that’s where it failed in making the book a total five-star read for me. I enjoyed their progress (though them hooking up at 50 percent was way too soon for me, sorry not sorry, I’m a slowburn girlie - that’s why I ended up skimming most of the sex scenes, because the sexual chemistry kinda disappeared for me once they got “together”), and when the third-act breakup came, it was actually believable and hurt in a very satisfying way.
It’s the fallout after that point that left me unsatisfied. Specifically Lars. Because Ryan was hurting and it was he who suffered the consequences of the fallout the most, but Lars made it completely about himself and fucked it up.
Which would be fine, I love that kind of drama - IF THERE WAS SOME GROVELING AND APOLOGIZING AFTER. And you know what? Nothing. Nada. Not one apology from Lars to Ryan came. We saw inside Lars’ head, so we knew he was miserable, but what good is that for Ryan?
And it was actually Ryan who continued to reach out, to try to make it work, to make an effort, while Lars was purely reactionary. You don’t even UNDERSTAND how frustrating that is for me because at the end of the day, such a relationship feels imbalanced, and it subconsciously exploits Ryan’s self-esteem issues - because of fucking course he’ll make an effort, right? He doesn’t even NEED an apology, why would he?? I don’t mind when characters fuck up - I mind when I don’t see the consequences for them 😠
And it makes me wonder, if Ryan didn’t make that effort, would they even be together in the end? I’m kind of in doubt about that. I seriously hope Lars will work on that because otherwise, I’ll come and take Ryan away from him, and he can have his temper tantrum for all I care 😒😅 Don’t get me wrong, he clearly loves Ryan! But we know that mainly because it’s dual POV, because the on-page effort is precisely zero, in my opinion.
Don’t even get me started on how, instead of having a conversation, they continued to just fuck and avoid talking about anything important. Dudes 🙄 I definitely prefer my characters with a smidgen more emotional maturity, I think. It WAS in-character for them, but I wasn't amused.
...well then! I had things to get off my chest, sorry about that! 😅 Despite my grievances with Lars, he truly is a greatly written character, I just don’t have a great love for him - I grudgingly accept his place at Ryan’s side, and I’m WATCHING 👀🤨
There’s also one big aspect I absolutely loved - Lars’ complicated relationship with his older brother Anders. I loved the resolution at the end, and I’m such an Anders fangirl (that stoic but protective older brother vibe gets me going 🔥), I couldn’t be happier about how it all played out between them!
I was honestly contemplating slapping the five-star rating simply for how much in a chokehold this book had me, but there are too many things that bothered me. Still, an AMAZING read when it comes to hockey romance that contains actual hockey! Thank you, Evie, for convincing me I had to read this, you were right, of course ❤️
(Any other similar recs?? Though not Heated Rivalry, pretty please!)
December 10, 2025
Re-read 12/2025
5 stars.
I had loved this last year and wanted to re-read it before reading Drop the Gloves.
I didn't click with the other books by this author that I had read after TTD, so I was a bit apprehensive before starting it again.
I shouldn't have worried though, because I loved this story so much (again)! Lars and Ryan are simply lovely. It's not often an author manages to make me tear up, so this book is one of the few exceptions. I loved that there was so much hockey. The personal struggles they faced felt genuine.
Can't wait to read Drop the Gloves now.
-----------
Read 10/2024
4,5 stars .
I enjoyed Lars and Ryan's story from the first to the last page.
Although I imagine it's hard to write something new in the mm hockey romance genre as there is already so much out there, the author wrote a unique and genuine feeling story. It reminded me a bit of Catherine Cloud's books (and that's the highest praise from me) because the focus was on hockey, on the character development of both MCs, and on their relationship development, and not primarily on sex. There were sex scenes and I enjoyed them, but sex was a small part in the whole process of Lars and Ryan getting their hea.
I loved how Lars tried to boost Ryan's confidence and even made others see clearer how good Ryan was. Ryan trying to understand Lars's relationship with his brother and family was awesome, too. I especially loved that there was no wonderful (but unrealistic) solution but a more realistic and believable approach to solving the tension between the brothers.
I was glued to the pages. It was lovely to watch Ryan and Lars slowly becoming first friends, then getting closer and slowly realising they were falling in love. The not openly talking about certain things made sense, and wasn't a set up to drag the story out. The plot felt very balanced.
The chapters with social media snippets, interviews and articles about the hockey teams and hockey rules were fun (I even learned some new things about the sport).
5 stars.
I had loved this last year and wanted to re-read it before reading Drop the Gloves.
I didn't click with the other books by this author that I had read after TTD, so I was a bit apprehensive before starting it again.
I shouldn't have worried though, because I loved this story so much (again)! Lars and Ryan are simply lovely. It's not often an author manages to make me tear up, so this book is one of the few exceptions. I loved that there was so much hockey. The personal struggles they faced felt genuine.
Can't wait to read Drop the Gloves now.
-----------
Read 10/2024
4,5 stars .
I enjoyed Lars and Ryan's story from the first to the last page.
Although I imagine it's hard to write something new in the mm hockey romance genre as there is already so much out there, the author wrote a unique and genuine feeling story. It reminded me a bit of Catherine Cloud's books (and that's the highest praise from me) because the focus was on hockey, on the character development of both MCs, and on their relationship development, and not primarily on sex. There were sex scenes and I enjoyed them, but sex was a small part in the whole process of Lars and Ryan getting their hea.
I loved how Lars tried to boost Ryan's confidence and even made others see clearer how good Ryan was. Ryan trying to understand Lars's relationship with his brother and family was awesome, too. I especially loved that there was no wonderful (but unrealistic) solution but a more realistic and believable approach to solving the tension between the brothers.
I was glued to the pages. It was lovely to watch Ryan and Lars slowly becoming first friends, then getting closer and slowly realising they were falling in love. The not openly talking about certain things made sense, and wasn't a set up to drag the story out. The plot felt very balanced.
The chapters with social media snippets, interviews and articles about the hockey teams and hockey rules were fun (I even learned some new things about the sport).
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December 9, 2024
oh this was lovely!! i loved the characters and their complex feelings, as well as how the romance felt so soft and pure (while a bit angsty during certain moments bc the mcs don’t know how to communicate lmao). i especially loved the development between Lars and his brother, Anders, and how, even tho Lars still held a grudge and anger from years ago, Anders still just treated/viewed him as his “bratty lil brother”. it was such a complex relationship between the two, but i loved seeing the growth from the beginning of the story until the end. i also loved Lars’ grandma (best character ever) and Tanner omg... i would definitely be interested in a story for Tanner. 👀
December 11, 2024
The story was cute, but it didn't particularly wow me; however, it did make me smile a few times. Ryan was a character who truly stood out to me, and I liked him immediately. I tend to get attached to one character, and once I do, I'm fully in their corner. This brings me to Lars.
In my view, Lars came across as quite selfish. He didn’t seem to reciprocate what he received from Ryan, always ending up needing to make amends for his mistakes. This left me with a negative impression of him. The way their relationship began certainly didn’t help improve his character to me.
Honestly, he acted like a child, and I can't stand when a character who is supposed to be an adult still acts like they are 10 years old.
Lars's relationship with his brother only deepened my dislike for him, particularly after seeing Anders's perspective. Anders was right—Lars is undeniably spoiled.
The plot didn't remain strong throughout the book. While it started off engaging, by the time I reached the halfway point, it began to drag significantly.
Now, let’s talk about the third-act breakup. I hated it, which significantly impacted my rating; otherwise, it would have been higher. It fueled my dislike for Lars, especially combined with the constant miscommunication throughout their relationship. He never apologized for the ghosting, and once again, it was Ryan who had to reach out, as always.
Honestly, I struggled with how to rate this.
Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I can't overlook these issues. In conclusion, the third-act breakup ruined the book and their relationship for me.
Ryan deserved better.
In my view, Lars came across as quite selfish. He didn’t seem to reciprocate what he received from Ryan, always ending up needing to make amends for his mistakes. This left me with a negative impression of him. The way their relationship began certainly didn’t help improve his character to me.
Honestly, he acted like a child, and I can't stand when a character who is supposed to be an adult still acts like they are 10 years old.
Lars's relationship with his brother only deepened my dislike for him, particularly after seeing Anders's perspective. Anders was right—Lars is undeniably spoiled.
The plot didn't remain strong throughout the book. While it started off engaging, by the time I reached the halfway point, it began to drag significantly.
Now, let’s talk about the third-act breakup. I hated it, which significantly impacted my rating; otherwise, it would have been higher. It fueled my dislike for Lars, especially combined with the constant miscommunication throughout their relationship. He never apologized for the ghosting, and once again, it was Ryan who had to reach out, as always.
Honestly, I struggled with how to rate this.
Maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I can't overlook these issues. In conclusion, the third-act breakup ruined the book and their relationship for me.
Ryan deserved better.
August 17, 2025
This book deserves so much more attention than it's gotten, I'm actually devastated.
The hockey aspect was never boring and as someone with little to no knowledge of the sport, I really felt like I learned a lot. Greatest part was that there was zero info dumping, I just got to figure it out along the way and cheer for my favorite boys. And there was A LOT of hockey, so I got to feel like a true fan. I need a Ryan Russell jersey in my hands this instant!
Now, the romance??? Perfect. Sure, there's the always dreaded miscommunication trope half way through, but in my opinion it was believable and done very well. This was only pulled off because Ryan and Lars were such amazing, real, well-written characters. Ryan, always anxious, always questioning himself, his hockey skills, his worth. Lars, with his obvious abandonment issues, who just wants to hold onto someone/something good. And neither of them have been in a serious relationship before? Miscommunication was going to happen. Personally, I loved the angst in the last third of the book. It was difficult to read because it was real.
Ok, but the additional sub plot of Lars and Anders? Amazingly done. I desperately need a sequel that has more Lars and Anders interactions because I locked in x10 during their scenes.
I could go on and on about this book, seriously. Fantastic characters, a sweet and real romance, and plenty of hockey!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
The hockey aspect was never boring and as someone with little to no knowledge of the sport, I really felt like I learned a lot. Greatest part was that there was zero info dumping, I just got to figure it out along the way and cheer for my favorite boys. And there was A LOT of hockey, so I got to feel like a true fan. I need a Ryan Russell jersey in my hands this instant!
Now, the romance??? Perfect. Sure, there's the always dreaded miscommunication trope half way through, but in my opinion it was believable and done very well. This was only pulled off because Ryan and Lars were such amazing, real, well-written characters. Ryan, always anxious, always questioning himself, his hockey skills, his worth. Lars, with his obvious abandonment issues, who just wants to hold onto someone/something good. And neither of them have been in a serious relationship before? Miscommunication was going to happen. Personally, I loved the angst in the last third of the book. It was difficult to read because it was real.
Ok, but the additional sub plot of Lars and Anders? Amazingly done. I desperately need a sequel that has more Lars and Anders interactions because I locked in x10 during their scenes.
I could go on and on about this book, seriously. Fantastic characters, a sweet and real romance, and plenty of hockey!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
October 21, 2024
Noooo, it’s over. 😭 Don’t judge how long it took me to read this one. I really just never wanted to leave Lars and Ryan. It always made me happy knowing I had them waiting for me at the end of the day.
If you have read and loved Catherine Cloud’s hockey romance then you will definitely love this one too.
That’s all you need to know.
Lars mumbled something in Swedish, resting his forehead against Ryan’s hip.
Ryan ran a hand through his hair patiently. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Ryan could feel the warm air hitting him with each word, sending goosebumps down his leg. “I just really like it when you call me that.”
A thrill went through him, making him feel as tipsy as the beer had. “You shouldn’t give me that kind of power, y’know.”
“You already have it.” Lars pressed a kiss, another. “The only thing that changed is now you know it.”
I loved Heard’s sophomore novel even more than the first and will be looking for more from this author in the future.
If you have read and loved Catherine Cloud’s hockey romance then you will definitely love this one too.
That’s all you need to know.
Lars mumbled something in Swedish, resting his forehead against Ryan’s hip.
Ryan ran a hand through his hair patiently. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Ryan could feel the warm air hitting him with each word, sending goosebumps down his leg. “I just really like it when you call me that.”
A thrill went through him, making him feel as tipsy as the beer had. “You shouldn’t give me that kind of power, y’know.”
“You already have it.” Lars pressed a kiss, another. “The only thing that changed is now you know it.”
I loved Heard’s sophomore novel even more than the first and will be looking for more from this author in the future.
September 27, 2024
I LOVED THIS ❤️, ever since I read
Hockey Bois
I've been low-key waiting for another book by this author, and when I saw I had been lucky enough to get this ARC I was over the moon!
This book was so emotional for me like I don't really enjoy second-chance stories much but somehow even if this one can be sort of interpreted as one, is not really as the MCs really get to know each other and form a very nice friendship before their relationship develops. I was so into this story that when I went to sleep at about 40% I kept dreaming about what would happen and how Lars would finally get it! because if you know you know! At least now I know I won’t dream about stupid Lass being goofy and sweet and dumb at the same time.
When the inevitable moment happened that gives the title of the book its name "The Trade Deadline" I was so invested in Ryan's career and his development as a player and how finally he was being appreciated that I got so angry with the crabs, but alas, I do understand it was all for the better.
I honestly don't know how to write this review without spoiling it more, so I will just say that Lars is an adorable but intense goofball and Baby boy Ryan got treated dirty and then nice and I was so glad when he was finally happy with himself and his bae.
Thanks to the author for this ARC! 10/10 recommend if you like idiot friends (that don't have the best communication skills) to lovers + a ton of hockey!
This book was so emotional for me like I don't really enjoy second-chance stories much but somehow even if this one can be sort of interpreted as one, is not really as the MCs really get to know each other and form a very nice friendship before their relationship develops. I was so into this story that when I went to sleep at about 40% I kept dreaming about what would happen and how Lars would finally get it! because if you know you know! At least now I know I won’t dream about stupid Lass being goofy and sweet and dumb at the same time.
When the inevitable moment happened that gives the title of the book its name "The Trade Deadline" I was so invested in Ryan's career and his development as a player and how finally he was being appreciated that I got so angry with the crabs, but alas, I do understand it was all for the better.
I honestly don't know how to write this review without spoiling it more, so I will just say that Lars is an adorable but intense goofball and Baby boy Ryan got treated dirty and then nice and I was so glad when he was finally happy with himself and his bae.
Thanks to the author for this ARC! 10/10 recommend if you like idiot friends (that don't have the best communication skills) to lovers + a ton of hockey!
November 2, 2024
This was a very well done, realistic, unique, heartwarming hockey romance and I had SUCH a good time with this!
It was unique in the sense, that the conflicts the couple face have more to do with them as people than the fact that they’re professional athletes, as you so often read in more generic hockey romances!
Because here, the longstanding conflict between Lars and his brother (which was handled really beautifully imo) and the crippling self doubt of Ryan, who was traded one too many times, are placed front and centre of the plot and their development.
Also there’s the fact that Lars forgot they already hooked up 8 years prior which was honestly hilarious and made this a weird second chance romance 😅
I loved how Lars made it his mission to slowly build up Ryan’s confidence and made everyone around them see him and all his talent. I was rooting hard for Ryan right alongside Lars!
There was also a lot of blushing, caring, blurting and a really nice slow burn from kind of enemies to friends to lovers.
I also feel like the author learned from her first book and gave us dual POV, a little steam, and a bit less on page hockey games, which I really appreciated!
Like with Hockey Bois though, I thought it dragged a bit at the end and the no communication trope got on my nerves. Also I wanted a bit more PINING and even BIGGER FEELINGS and the willingness to SACRIFICE for each other, so 4⭐️ it is.
PS: My fav part of the whole book was Lars who absolutely loses his shit and melts into a puddle of goo whenever Ryan tries to speak Swedish, which was so ADORABLE 😩
It was unique in the sense, that the conflicts the couple face have more to do with them as people than the fact that they’re professional athletes, as you so often read in more generic hockey romances!
Because here, the longstanding conflict between Lars and his brother (which was handled really beautifully imo) and the crippling self doubt of Ryan, who was traded one too many times, are placed front and centre of the plot and their development.
Also there’s the fact that Lars forgot they already hooked up 8 years prior which was honestly hilarious and made this a weird second chance romance 😅
I loved how Lars made it his mission to slowly build up Ryan’s confidence and made everyone around them see him and all his talent. I was rooting hard for Ryan right alongside Lars!
There was also a lot of blushing, caring, blurting and a really nice slow burn from kind of enemies to friends to lovers.
I also feel like the author learned from her first book and gave us dual POV, a little steam, and a bit less on page hockey games, which I really appreciated!
Like with Hockey Bois though, I thought it dragged a bit at the end and the no communication trope got on my nerves. Also I wanted a bit more PINING and even BIGGER FEELINGS and the willingness to SACRIFICE for each other, so 4⭐️ it is.
PS: My fav part of the whole book was Lars who absolutely loses his shit and melts into a puddle of goo whenever Ryan tries to speak Swedish, which was so ADORABLE 😩
August 31, 2025
Not feeling super verbose today so this review might be in bullet-points only (beware of spoilers):
THINGS I LOVED:
-The complicated characters! Both boys have a lot of baggage but they’re so lovable. Lars has insane abandonment issues which paired to with extreme talent and cockiness makes for a really compelling combination of slightly arrogant superstar with a heart of gold. And Ryan’s insecurity and self esteem problems (some of them caused by Lars himself) were also really compelling and gave his character so much depth.
-The hockey! There’s so much hockey and I was so entertained and never wanted to skip a scene or a game.
-The “second chance” romance that wasn’t actually second chance because Lars DID NOT REMEMBER SLEEPING WITH RYAN back when they were 18. It was so well developed and I was anxiously waiting for the shoe to drop, the tension of this was delicious. Also this was explained well, and it was believable for Lars to have been 1) so drunk and 2) so stressed with family stuff and 3) so focused on his own game that the subsequent times he met Ryan on the ice did not compute. The whole bit where Ryan is dropping hints about Switzerland I was laughing out loud cause girl you ain’t slick. I love how they built a real friendship before they attempted to be anything more. I LOVE that Ryan did not initially give in and was like, if you want to be with me you’re going to have to remember what you did wrong and apologise.
-The Swedish! I’ve been studying Swedish for a bit and I got to flex those skills here, omg when the when the first “jag är förälskad i dig” hits I was GIGGLING like an idiot. Like ohh boy Ryan doesn’t know what it means but I DO <3
-The brotherly rivalry subplot was handled perfectly. I want to know more about Anders please, he was so broody and quiet and silently wallowing in guilt, I want to hug the Nilsson boys so badly.
-The friendships. I love a large cast of well rounded characters to bring more life into a compelling story.
-The writing! I said this before, but this felt a bit like a Taylor Fitzpatrick book (I’m a stan) because the prose was mature and beautiful but to the point, and it made me feel all the feels.
THINGS I HATED:
I have to say however I was hugely irritated by one thing.
Their first time having full-sex was OFF PAGE? THAT’S A CRIME.
Truly baffled by this choice.
But everything else was so good that I’ll overlook it. 5 stars.
----
RTC but I loved this
THINGS I LOVED:
-The complicated characters! Both boys have a lot of baggage but they’re so lovable. Lars has insane abandonment issues which paired to with extreme talent and cockiness makes for a really compelling combination of slightly arrogant superstar with a heart of gold. And Ryan’s insecurity and self esteem problems (some of them caused by Lars himself) were also really compelling and gave his character so much depth.
-The hockey! There’s so much hockey and I was so entertained and never wanted to skip a scene or a game.
-The “second chance” romance that wasn’t actually second chance because Lars DID NOT REMEMBER SLEEPING WITH RYAN back when they were 18. It was so well developed and I was anxiously waiting for the shoe to drop, the tension of this was delicious. Also this was explained well, and it was believable for Lars to have been 1) so drunk and 2) so stressed with family stuff and 3) so focused on his own game that the subsequent times he met Ryan on the ice did not compute. The whole bit where Ryan is dropping hints about Switzerland I was laughing out loud cause girl you ain’t slick. I love how they built a real friendship before they attempted to be anything more. I LOVE that Ryan did not initially give in and was like, if you want to be with me you’re going to have to remember what you did wrong and apologise.
-The Swedish! I’ve been studying Swedish for a bit and I got to flex those skills here, omg when the when the first “jag är förälskad i dig” hits I was GIGGLING like an idiot. Like ohh boy Ryan doesn’t know what it means but I DO <3
-The brotherly rivalry subplot was handled perfectly. I want to know more about Anders please, he was so broody and quiet and silently wallowing in guilt, I want to hug the Nilsson boys so badly.
-The friendships. I love a large cast of well rounded characters to bring more life into a compelling story.
-The writing! I said this before, but this felt a bit like a Taylor Fitzpatrick book (I’m a stan) because the prose was mature and beautiful but to the point, and it made me feel all the feels.
THINGS I HATED:
I have to say however I was hugely irritated by one thing.
Their first time having full-sex was OFF PAGE? THAT’S A CRIME.
Truly baffled by this choice.
But everything else was so good that I’ll overlook it. 5 stars.
----
RTC but I loved this
August 28, 2025
OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh. This was just so extremely NICE.
Not a page turner, and kind of long, so it took me a while to read because whenever I did I wanted to REALLY read it, you know? Like I wanted my sheets to be clean and my hair to be clean and I wanted to wear my silk pyjamas and give it my full attention, because that was what it deserved.
Oh GAWD how I loved these two. Are you kidding me!!! They were fucking perfect. Please, please, please give this audiobook treatment.
Not a page turner, and kind of long, so it took me a while to read because whenever I did I wanted to REALLY read it, you know? Like I wanted my sheets to be clean and my hair to be clean and I wanted to wear my silk pyjamas and give it my full attention, because that was what it deserved.
Oh GAWD how I loved these two. Are you kidding me!!! They were fucking perfect. Please, please, please give this audiobook treatment.
October 26, 2024
'Lars questioned if he was relationship material.' So did I. Many, many, many times. Yet, not once did Ryan. Blind as a bat, our Ryan.
First things first. It's been a really long while since I got so invested in an MM hockey romance. Reading (and loving this) felt like coming home.
I'm going to say something that sounds bad but really isn't. There's nothing over the top dramatic about this book (that hasn't happened in other hockey MM romances before) but this book was really good.
Diving into the review.
I'll be the first to admit that I sort of boxed Ryan into this personality where I NEVER would have called him bringing up the Juniors thing, but I was so delighted that he did!
Surprised, because this man never stands up for himself, but so happy that he was confident enough in their budding friendship to feel like he could speak up about something bothering him rather than just roll over like he ordinarily would.
Because we don't get to see anything about Ryan pre-Juniors, it's easy to assume from the little we do see that the incident played a part in why he's the way he is, why he has so little self-esteem.
Must have been a mind-fuck to have the person who forgot your existence telling you how amazing you are. Like okay, then why don't you remember? I love dual POV for these kinds of stories because the way I cackled when Ryan said, "I know I'm not worth the effort." and Lars had the GALL to be offended 💀💀💀💀💀
My good man, you're probably 70% of the reason why he believes this!!!
The number thing. The name thing. The Juniors thing. 😂God. Ryan's a better man than I because I'd have been convinced Lars had it out for me.
“It might take a while. I’m pretty forgettable.”
Ouch. Double ouch given their history.
But also......
“I’ve met you twice, yes? And both times, you mesmerized me. We’re on our third try, aren’t we? What’s that saying?”
Not going to lie, he had me with that. Mostly because it's true. Yes, he forgot. Terrible business. But the next time he met him, he was STILL all over him like white on rice.
“Three strikes and you’re out?” Ryan said flatly.
😂💀😂💀😂💀😂Nah. I LOVE this Ryan. And it was even cuter that Ryan was only able to be this way with Lars.
Also, I won't call this a slow burn per se, but I LOVE how naturally the relationship between them progressed. It wasn't just sparks then love. They really do build a friendship. Wary at first, and you can see Lars wanting it more than Ryan(who's increasingly beffuddled at why Lars keeps trying 😂)
Then you see them start to mutually realize...hey, this guy's kinda cool, then.... Oh, shit. I really really want to kiss him.
I loved when Ryan realized he was 'stupidly fond' of Lars. Like, yes, he likes him, really likes him as more than a friend but it's not yet at the 'oh shit, I'm in love' stage and it's really sweet to just watch them grow through those stages.
Insert the obligatory hockey drama which I quite enjoyed because of the added mess with Anders.
MVP quote-
Lars Nilsson: Vote for Ryan or I won’t score any more goals. (sounds of laughter in the background) Why are you laughing? I’m serious.
Oh, and Lars was incredibly well written. If it weren't for his extremely loveable personality, I'd have hated him, given how many (romantic) shots he missed for such a supposedly good centre.
First things first. It's been a really long while since I got so invested in an MM hockey romance. Reading (and loving this) felt like coming home.
I'm going to say something that sounds bad but really isn't. There's nothing over the top dramatic about this book (that hasn't happened in other hockey MM romances before) but this book was really good.
Diving into the review.
I'll be the first to admit that I sort of boxed Ryan into this personality where I NEVER would have called him bringing up the Juniors thing, but I was so delighted that he did!
Surprised, because this man never stands up for himself, but so happy that he was confident enough in their budding friendship to feel like he could speak up about something bothering him rather than just roll over like he ordinarily would.
Because we don't get to see anything about Ryan pre-Juniors, it's easy to assume from the little we do see that the incident played a part in why he's the way he is, why he has so little self-esteem.
Must have been a mind-fuck to have the person who forgot your existence telling you how amazing you are. Like okay, then why don't you remember? I love dual POV for these kinds of stories because the way I cackled when Ryan said, "I know I'm not worth the effort." and Lars had the GALL to be offended 💀💀💀💀💀
My good man, you're probably 70% of the reason why he believes this!!!
The number thing. The name thing. The Juniors thing. 😂God. Ryan's a better man than I because I'd have been convinced Lars had it out for me.
“It might take a while. I’m pretty forgettable.”
Ouch. Double ouch given their history.
But also......
“I’ve met you twice, yes? And both times, you mesmerized me. We’re on our third try, aren’t we? What’s that saying?”
Not going to lie, he had me with that. Mostly because it's true. Yes, he forgot. Terrible business. But the next time he met him, he was STILL all over him like white on rice.
“Three strikes and you’re out?” Ryan said flatly.
😂💀😂💀😂💀😂Nah. I LOVE this Ryan. And it was even cuter that Ryan was only able to be this way with Lars.
Also, I won't call this a slow burn per se, but I LOVE how naturally the relationship between them progressed. It wasn't just sparks then love. They really do build a friendship. Wary at first, and you can see Lars wanting it more than Ryan(who's increasingly beffuddled at why Lars keeps trying 😂)
Then you see them start to mutually realize...hey, this guy's kinda cool, then.... Oh, shit. I really really want to kiss him.
I loved when Ryan realized he was 'stupidly fond' of Lars. Like, yes, he likes him, really likes him as more than a friend but it's not yet at the 'oh shit, I'm in love' stage and it's really sweet to just watch them grow through those stages.
Insert the obligatory hockey drama which I quite enjoyed because of the added mess with Anders.
MVP quote-
Lars Nilsson: Vote for Ryan or I won’t score any more goals. (sounds of laughter in the background) Why are you laughing? I’m serious.
Oh, and Lars was incredibly well written. If it weren't for his extremely loveable personality, I'd have hated him, given how many (romantic) shots he missed for such a supposedly good centre.
December 27, 2025
This was real nice, @Evie! Not as swoony as Gravity but still very lovable!!
RTC
Pre-read
I guess it's only the beginning of a long series of "trying to scratch that itch the Heated rivalry TV show gave me". The show, not the book, I DNF that. The show is so much more... Wholesome? I'm obsessed. Anyway this was a rec by Evie, so I'm sure it will deliver!
RTC
Pre-read
I guess it's only the beginning of a long series of "trying to scratch that itch the Heated rivalry TV show gave me". The show, not the book, I DNF that. The show is so much more... Wholesome? I'm obsessed. Anyway this was a rec by Evie, so I'm sure it will deliver!
July 19, 2025
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is because of the goddamn miscommunication near the end that almost drove me nuts 😩 Otherwise, it was almost perfect 💘
Read
October 14, 2024Pros:
- The premise had me legit cracking up for way longer than I expected. “Brian” killed me. And the way that Ryan went that long without doing anything about it was not only incredible insight into him as a character, but also 100% plausible. If you were in that situation IRL tell me you wouldn’t *strongly* consider the Ryan approach!
- The MCs’ characterization was really strong, and specific in a way that not all romances pull off. It’s a second chance romance where you get the chemistry - the things that brought them together the first time are the same things that bring them together the second time. (So many second chance romances feel wildly contrived, and this one absolutely never did.)
- I liked the plotline with the brother - it ended up really working in a way that felt realistic the whole way through, and despite all the literal physical fights between them you don’t end up hating either of them and are somehow like “he broke his nose, but it’s no big deal”! And the way that Ryan ended up kind of in the middle of them/seeing both sides felt really true to his character & like a realistic way a significant other would end up involved in that kind of family dynamic.
- I liked the way the [redacted] plotline unfolded. It was both accurate to the character and low-key in a way that was kind of refreshing for this subgenre.
Cons:
- I felt like this book started so strong… and then didn’t really hit its execution as well as it could have.
- In particular (and in a very The Long Game way tbh) I felt like the way the sex scenes/references were incorporated in the second half of the book was… obligatory. Gotta include that high-heat sexual content etc etc. It didn’t really work for me at all on a plot level, past a certain point in the story - if anything it was distracting from the emotional arc, which was what I was actually invested in.
- The “he’s foreign” stuff with Lars… look ymmv but for me there was sometimes something about how he was written as a “non-American” that didn’t read as accurate to me. Like I’m sorry but just because he’s Scandinavian doesn’t mean he can’t have seen Inception, you know?
- The book was too long. At one point I was like “this can’t possibly keep going for that many more pages” and then the [redacted] twist happened which kind of justified it… and then it was still too long.
- And the news/social media excerpts? By the end I was skipping them entirely. They added nothing to the story. They felt like fan service for the NHL fans reading this book (of which I am not one). I know this isn’t the only hock-rom or sports-rom (or celebrity-rom) that incorporates these but frankly they are almost never justified/plot-relevant. Authors should just be cutting them and using them as the book release newsletter or something! And in particular for this book too many of them just felt like they were there to explain super basic hockey stuff which…. if you got this far, and are reading this book, you probably already know all you need to.
This could either be a charitable 4 stars or a “oops how did this happen, you were great tho I swear” 3 stars. So I’m compromising by choosing neither! In general, a good read… I just feel like it could easily have been better.
- The premise had me legit cracking up for way longer than I expected. “Brian” killed me. And the way that Ryan went that long without doing anything about it was not only incredible insight into him as a character, but also 100% plausible. If you were in that situation IRL tell me you wouldn’t *strongly* consider the Ryan approach!
- The MCs’ characterization was really strong, and specific in a way that not all romances pull off. It’s a second chance romance where you get the chemistry - the things that brought them together the first time are the same things that bring them together the second time. (So many second chance romances feel wildly contrived, and this one absolutely never did.)
- I liked the plotline with the brother - it ended up really working in a way that felt realistic the whole way through, and despite all the literal physical fights between them you don’t end up hating either of them and are somehow like “he broke his nose, but it’s no big deal”! And the way that Ryan ended up kind of in the middle of them/seeing both sides felt really true to his character & like a realistic way a significant other would end up involved in that kind of family dynamic.
- I liked the way the [redacted] plotline unfolded. It was both accurate to the character and low-key in a way that was kind of refreshing for this subgenre.
Cons:
- I felt like this book started so strong… and then didn’t really hit its execution as well as it could have.
- In particular (and in a very The Long Game way tbh) I felt like the way the sex scenes/references were incorporated in the second half of the book was… obligatory. Gotta include that high-heat sexual content etc etc. It didn’t really work for me at all on a plot level, past a certain point in the story - if anything it was distracting from the emotional arc, which was what I was actually invested in.
- The “he’s foreign” stuff with Lars… look ymmv but for me there was sometimes something about how he was written as a “non-American” that didn’t read as accurate to me. Like I’m sorry but just because he’s Scandinavian doesn’t mean he can’t have seen Inception, you know?
- The book was too long. At one point I was like “this can’t possibly keep going for that many more pages” and then the [redacted] twist happened which kind of justified it… and then it was still too long.
- And the news/social media excerpts? By the end I was skipping them entirely. They added nothing to the story. They felt like fan service for the NHL fans reading this book (of which I am not one). I know this isn’t the only hock-rom or sports-rom (or celebrity-rom) that incorporates these but frankly they are almost never justified/plot-relevant. Authors should just be cutting them and using them as the book release newsletter or something! And in particular for this book too many of them just felt like they were there to explain super basic hockey stuff which…. if you got this far, and are reading this book, you probably already know all you need to.
This could either be a charitable 4 stars or a “oops how did this happen, you were great tho I swear” 3 stars. So I’m compromising by choosing neither! In general, a good read… I just feel like it could easily have been better.
December 17, 2024
4.5 Stars
This was fucking fantastic and it hurts my heart a bit to shave off that 0.5 star. The first 70% of the book was incredible! Perfection!
But then when the big angst happens in the third act, and big angst drags on way too long and I was exhausted. I cried, I hurt, and I still feel icky about it because it was going so perfectly and it really took the wind out of my sails. I skimmed a bit just to make it go by faster, and I really struggled without a different final epilogue or final chapter where things worked out a bit better. This story has a HFN, which undoubtedly is a HEA for Ryan and Lars but I would’ve loved to see it. I actually would beg for a second book of this couple, Rachel Reid style, to see how they’re doing in the long run.
The relationship development in this book was perfection. Ryan and Lars were both thoroughly fleshed out characters with their own personalities and traits and meshed together so damn well. They were so lovely together it made me so happy. I really loved how everything was going until the *big angst*. I loved that there were explicit scenes in this as well. I read the author’s other book Hockey Bois and it was closed door which I struggled a lot with. I would say this book is far better than Hockey Bois which I know is well-loved by others.
There is so much relationship development and hockey both in this that for someone who loves hockey romance, with a little bit of a more realistic aspect of being an LGBTQ+ hockey player than many current books, it is a must-read. I honestly think this is one of the best books I have read this year, but it did hurt my feelings a quite a bit in the third act.
I truly think more should’ve been done to resolve the issues created by the third act. Ryan and Lars don’t communicate well, which I remember being a theme in Hockey Bois too. It upset me a lot. Which I suppose is indicative of how much I loved these characters!
This was fucking fantastic and it hurts my heart a bit to shave off that 0.5 star. The first 70% of the book was incredible! Perfection!
But then when the big angst happens in the third act, and big angst drags on way too long and I was exhausted. I cried, I hurt, and I still feel icky about it because it was going so perfectly and it really took the wind out of my sails. I skimmed a bit just to make it go by faster, and I really struggled without a different final epilogue or final chapter where things worked out a bit better. This story has a HFN, which undoubtedly is a HEA for Ryan and Lars but I would’ve loved to see it. I actually would beg for a second book of this couple, Rachel Reid style, to see how they’re doing in the long run.
The relationship development in this book was perfection. Ryan and Lars were both thoroughly fleshed out characters with their own personalities and traits and meshed together so damn well. They were so lovely together it made me so happy. I really loved how everything was going until the *big angst*. I loved that there were explicit scenes in this as well. I read the author’s other book Hockey Bois and it was closed door which I struggled a lot with. I would say this book is far better than Hockey Bois which I know is well-loved by others.
There is so much relationship development and hockey both in this that for someone who loves hockey romance, with a little bit of a more realistic aspect of being an LGBTQ+ hockey player than many current books, it is a must-read. I honestly think this is one of the best books I have read this year, but it did hurt my feelings a quite a bit in the third act.
I truly think more should’ve been done to resolve the issues created by the third act. Ryan and Lars don’t communicate well, which I remember being a theme in Hockey Bois too. It upset me a lot. Which I suppose is indicative of how much I loved these characters!
October 8, 2024
I loved Hockey Bois so much, so ever since I have been low-key stalking the author and keeping up on all the details once this book became a WIP. I am THRILLED to have received an ARC - this book is SO GOOD!! Do you love hockey and hockey romances? Go read this book - the author really knows about hockey because the author actually plays hockey! DO you love goofy/oblivious/sweet boys who are sorta kinda getting a second chance? Then you too will love this book. Do you love when MCs establish a foundation of friendship first before the fireworks start? Then you too will love this book. I have so much love and enthusiasm for Lars and Ryan - so many happy tears for them. This is not a short book, but I would happily read many more pages about them. I want to gush way more but it's hard without being spoiler-y.
Thanks to the author for this ARC - I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks to the author for this ARC - I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 27, 2025
Fun and adorable!
August 19, 2025
This book was such a nice surprise! I thought I already read all the good books about hockey, but I guess there was one more. (I realize these books are not really books about hockey but mm themed hockey romances, but they’re definitely the closest I’ll ever come to learning about anything sporty 😬🤣)
I loved this story so much! The fight between the brothers was so real, I can so relate to Lars, even if he was spoiled. As a kid you can rationally know your brother didn’t leave you behind, but that doesn’t mean you don’t feel like that. Especially in the case of Lars where his parents had died already.
And Ryan was such a sweetheart. Especially after his earlier experience with Lars. And the Brian thing 😂 I think Lars is lucky he is gay and it was a boy he offended, because I can’t imagine a girl would have been so easy to forgive him 🤣
Anyway, I’m very happy I got to read this book. Even if there were some minor issues, it’s a five star read for me. Big recommendation. And on the reread stack it goes 🤩
Ps I kept expecting the epilogue to be something like Lars getting traded to the Otters. This ending was so much better (and more realistic) 😅
I loved this story so much! The fight between the brothers was so real, I can so relate to Lars, even if he was spoiled. As a kid you can rationally know your brother didn’t leave you behind, but that doesn’t mean you don’t feel like that. Especially in the case of Lars where his parents had died already.
And Ryan was such a sweetheart. Especially after his earlier experience with Lars. And the Brian thing 😂 I think Lars is lucky he is gay and it was a boy he offended, because I can’t imagine a girl would have been so easy to forgive him 🤣
Anyway, I’m very happy I got to read this book. Even if there were some minor issues, it’s a five star read for me. Big recommendation. And on the reread stack it goes 🤩
Ps I kept expecting the epilogue to be something like Lars getting traded to the Otters. This ending was so much better (and more realistic) 😅
April 10, 2025
I absolutely LOVE a hockey romance, and this book was the perfect mix of both. I loved the little fact sheets in the form of social media posts and news articles. I loved the fact that we actually had them play properly rather than hockey just being a side note. I loved the rivalries and the tension as they went through the season. Even the angst as Ryan waits to learn his fate.
I loved the storyline and how Ryan had to put up with all of Lars’s faux pas at the beginning, and then we watch how their friendship, then later their relationship develops.
It’s all very relatable and realistic. Nothing overly cheesy or far-fetched. If anything, Lars is a bit of a tinker, and Ryan is a bit of a doormat, so they complement each other perfectly and help to make those parts of themselves work in a better way. It’s lovely to read as Ryan’s confidence grows and as Lars retracts his claws long enough to hear some truths from his brother.
I really enjoyed this.
I loved the storyline and how Ryan had to put up with all of Lars’s faux pas at the beginning, and then we watch how their friendship, then later their relationship develops.
It’s all very relatable and realistic. Nothing overly cheesy or far-fetched. If anything, Lars is a bit of a tinker, and Ryan is a bit of a doormat, so they complement each other perfectly and help to make those parts of themselves work in a better way. It’s lovely to read as Ryan’s confidence grows and as Lars retracts his claws long enough to hear some truths from his brother.
I really enjoyed this.
April 7, 2025
4.5 stars
I loved every single part of this book! RJ’s and Lars’s story is an example of hockey romance done right. This definitely goes on to my must re-read shelf.
I loved every single part of this book! RJ’s and Lars’s story is an example of hockey romance done right. This definitely goes on to my must re-read shelf.
August 16, 2025
Squeeeee!!! That was so utterly delightful — UTTERLY DELIGHTFUL 🥰. Do yourself a favour and read it, you’ll be happy you did.
December 31, 2024
anyone who knows me knows I Don't Do ARCs. they scare me, upset me, and stress me OUT. but not this. i had a good feeling about this and i was lucky enough to be able to read it early! i'm so thankful.
i don't even know where to start with this so i guess i'll start with the fact that it had me hooked pretty much instantly. i was invested in every aspect of the story. the characters? exquisite. the HOCKEY?? my god, the hockey. the best way i can describe the way the hockey was done in this story is a love letter to the sport and the fans of the sport. parts of this felt like i was straight up watching a game. it felt like these teams were REAL - i'm talking yelling LFG at the top of my lungs on a tuesday morning bc of ryan with the OT GWG and i'm talking going full kevin weekes 'hey crabs fans' to my irl friends because of some trades. it was perfect, it was wonderful, and it was the most incredible thing to read right as the NHL preseason is about to start. if hockey is your thing? run to this immediately please.
but back to the characters! lars endeared himself to me almost immediately. he's a selfless, sweet, (at times belligerent, petty, and bratty) prince and i adore him. i feel so lucky to have been able to be in his head and get his POV simply because his beef with his brother was SO complex and interesting and truthfully i get lars. i'd hold a years long grudge too wtf. i also loved getting to see his crush on ryan develop - it was just so pure and wholesome and fcking SWEET. him constantly making an ass of himself without even realizing it is honestly integral to the having a crush experience and was such a sweet bonus.
ryan my beloved! it took me a hot second to Get him. he confused and frustrated me because he was so sweet and thoughtful and FUNNY but he just didn't think of HIMSELF that way which had me like HUH? but then when i figured out his Deal and realized how lowkey insecure and doubtful he was at his core i decided to love him with all my heart. he's loyal, and kind, and patient and just everything i love about a character.
there was so much growth in both of them in so many ways and it was such a wonderful journey to go on. a frustrating journey too tbh. i would be REMISS if i didn't talk about how gd infuriating it was to hear them BOTH wonder what the hell was going on between them and YELLING at them to just ask. how frustrating it was to see them fall back into the whole ~not communicating bit~ even after things went the way they did because of that VERY REASON. ~mildly spoilery here~ but i wish ryan had made lars grovel even the tiniest bit for his Comment. cuz me personally i'm blocking for a week STRAIGHT. it was mean and hurtful and while i know they hadn't talked about anything at this point, be so for fn real. Y'ALL WERE BFS!!!! i digress.
this was absolute hockey romance friends to lovers EXCELLENCE. one of my top reads this year for sure and i need all my hockey besties to join me IMMEDIATELY. thanks!
*i voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book <3
i don't even know where to start with this so i guess i'll start with the fact that it had me hooked pretty much instantly. i was invested in every aspect of the story. the characters? exquisite. the HOCKEY?? my god, the hockey. the best way i can describe the way the hockey was done in this story is a love letter to the sport and the fans of the sport. parts of this felt like i was straight up watching a game. it felt like these teams were REAL - i'm talking yelling LFG at the top of my lungs on a tuesday morning bc of ryan with the OT GWG and i'm talking going full kevin weekes 'hey crabs fans' to my irl friends because of some trades. it was perfect, it was wonderful, and it was the most incredible thing to read right as the NHL preseason is about to start. if hockey is your thing? run to this immediately please.
but back to the characters! lars endeared himself to me almost immediately. he's a selfless, sweet, (at times belligerent, petty, and bratty) prince and i adore him. i feel so lucky to have been able to be in his head and get his POV simply because his beef with his brother was SO complex and interesting and truthfully i get lars. i'd hold a years long grudge too wtf. i also loved getting to see his crush on ryan develop - it was just so pure and wholesome and fcking SWEET. him constantly making an ass of himself without even realizing it is honestly integral to the having a crush experience and was such a sweet bonus.
ryan my beloved! it took me a hot second to Get him. he confused and frustrated me because he was so sweet and thoughtful and FUNNY but he just didn't think of HIMSELF that way which had me like HUH? but then when i figured out his Deal and realized how lowkey insecure and doubtful he was at his core i decided to love him with all my heart. he's loyal, and kind, and patient and just everything i love about a character.
there was so much growth in both of them in so many ways and it was such a wonderful journey to go on. a frustrating journey too tbh. i would be REMISS if i didn't talk about how gd infuriating it was to hear them BOTH wonder what the hell was going on between them and YELLING at them to just ask. how frustrating it was to see them fall back into the whole ~not communicating bit~ even after things went the way they did because of that VERY REASON. ~mildly spoilery here~ but i wish ryan had made lars grovel even the tiniest bit for his Comment. cuz me personally i'm blocking for a week STRAIGHT. it was mean and hurtful and while i know they hadn't talked about anything at this point, be so for fn real. Y'ALL WERE BFS!!!! i digress.
this was absolute hockey romance friends to lovers EXCELLENCE. one of my top reads this year for sure and i need all my hockey besties to join me IMMEDIATELY. thanks!
*i voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book <3
November 4, 2024
Aww... 💙
No super, nie spodziewałam się tak dobrego, hokejowego romansu - z naciskiem na hokejowy 😁
Tempo było całkiem okej, choć spokojnie można historię nazwać slow-burnem.
Napisana z lekkością i lekkim zadziorem.
Bohaterowie kochani - Ryan, który gra w hokeja od zawsze, gra w NHL, ale wierzy, że jest co najwyżej przeciętny i nikt ani nic nie jest go w stanie przekonać, że jest inaczej, żadna drużyna nie chce go zatrzymać na dłużej; Lars - gwiazda ze Szwecji, znająca swoją wartość, ale całkiem wyluzowana, zmuszona w trakcie sezonu do zmiany drużyny, bo szef wszystkich szefów dowiedział się, że jest gejem i to wymazuje całą resztę jego zasług. Panowie mają swoją krótką historię z przygodnym seksem 7 lat temu, kiedy mieli po mniej więcej 18 lat, ale problem jest w tym, że tylko jeden z nich ją pamięta 😁 Drugi był zbyt nawalony po zdobyciu mistrzostwa świata juniorów 😉
Prawie przez cały czas, jak czytałam, miałam taki uśmieszek na twarzy, bo nie sposób nie było go mieć 😁 Był tylko jeden dłuższy moment pod koniec książki, gdzie miałam ochotę walnąć Larsa w łeb 😜 Ale tak to jest, kiedy dwóch facetów próbuje mieć związek, którego wcześniej nigdy nie mieli i nie za bardzo wiedzą, jak go ugryźć - co zrobić, co powiedzieć, jak to do cholery rozwiązać - są w związku? są chłopakami? powiedzieć, że chyba kochają tego drugiego? czy tak to działa? a może źle odczytują znaki? to może lepiej nic nie mówić? Są jak dzieci we mgle 😜
Przeczytałam tę wcale nie tak krótką książkę w jakieś 24 gdz. - co tylko pokazuje, jak bardzo mnie wciągnęła i jak nie mogłam się od niej oderwać 😁 Ale ja naprawdę uwielbiam hokejowe romanse - co jest paradoksem, bo nie wiem, czy w życiu widziałam choć z 10 meczów 😂🤣😂
Ten jest zdecydowanie wg mnie na piąteczkę 😁
No super, nie spodziewałam się tak dobrego, hokejowego romansu - z naciskiem na hokejowy 😁
Tempo było całkiem okej, choć spokojnie można historię nazwać slow-burnem.
Napisana z lekkością i lekkim zadziorem.
Bohaterowie kochani - Ryan, który gra w hokeja od zawsze, gra w NHL, ale wierzy, że jest co najwyżej przeciętny i nikt ani nic nie jest go w stanie przekonać, że jest inaczej, żadna drużyna nie chce go zatrzymać na dłużej; Lars - gwiazda ze Szwecji, znająca swoją wartość, ale całkiem wyluzowana, zmuszona w trakcie sezonu do zmiany drużyny, bo szef wszystkich szefów dowiedział się, że jest gejem i to wymazuje całą resztę jego zasług. Panowie mają swoją krótką historię z przygodnym seksem 7 lat temu, kiedy mieli po mniej więcej 18 lat, ale problem jest w tym, że tylko jeden z nich ją pamięta 😁 Drugi był zbyt nawalony po zdobyciu mistrzostwa świata juniorów 😉
Prawie przez cały czas, jak czytałam, miałam taki uśmieszek na twarzy, bo nie sposób nie było go mieć 😁 Był tylko jeden dłuższy moment pod koniec książki, gdzie miałam ochotę walnąć Larsa w łeb 😜 Ale tak to jest, kiedy dwóch facetów próbuje mieć związek, którego wcześniej nigdy nie mieli i nie za bardzo wiedzą, jak go ugryźć - co zrobić, co powiedzieć, jak to do cholery rozwiązać - są w związku? są chłopakami? powiedzieć, że chyba kochają tego drugiego? czy tak to działa? a może źle odczytują znaki? to może lepiej nic nie mówić? Są jak dzieci we mgle 😜
Przeczytałam tę wcale nie tak krótką książkę w jakieś 24 gdz. - co tylko pokazuje, jak bardzo mnie wciągnęła i jak nie mogłam się od niej oderwać 😁 Ale ja naprawdę uwielbiam hokejowe romanse - co jest paradoksem, bo nie wiem, czy w życiu widziałam choć z 10 meczów 😂🤣😂
Ten jest zdecydowanie wg mnie na piąteczkę 😁
December 19, 2024
4.75⭐️
Oh boy did I have a great time with this book. Had me giggling and kicking my feet all throughout. What a delightful twist on a common trope. Perhaps a mild spoiler - but this does happen very shortly after the beginning so not exactly a spoiler- 7 years after their initial hookup as teens, Lars is traded to the same team as Ryan. Only problem is, for one reason or another that we later learn about, Lars doesn’t remember Ryan 😬
Ryan is the most unassuming hockey sweetheart and that of course draws Lars in all over again, even though he doesn’t realize it’s already happened before. AND on top of that Ryan letting Lars call him Brian for 3 fucking weeks without correctly him is SO real lol. I would absolutely have done the same 🤣🥴 The not remembering their past hookup lasts for nearly 50% of the book - so if that sounds annoying maybe this isn’t the book for you but I will say it’s so well done and it didn’t feel drawn out without reason- it felt cute and it was nice to see them fall into friendship and then more step by step. There are lots of times and little clues dropped by Ryan to try to allude to their prior hookup but Lars remains absolutely clueless (and turns out for understandable reasons) This gave us plenty of time to really get to know these characters individually and fall in love with their unique quirks. Once that misunderstanding got figured out, I appreciated that the author didn’t spend the rest of the book just jumping from sex scene to sex scene - they were hot and very much a good time but also spread out and not the main focus of the plot.
*Special shoutout to Tanner and Mormor for being real ones and excellent confidants for our boys.
I also loved the journey Lars and his brother, Anders, relationship takes. They have a painful history to contend with and a lot of unresolved emotions that bubble up. Their big moment on the ice with Lars’ outburst detailing his hurt of being left all alone just broke my heart for him (not to mention the pain of his previous team being so antagonistic toward him without knowing why he left ugh 😓) I also loved following Ryan’s journey separate from Lars - him having a history of dealing with being traded and feeling unwanted also broke my heart. I loved how Lars spent so much time pumping him up with genuine support and respect for his hockey skills to help build his confidence. Give our boy his flowers!
Yes they sucked at communicating their honest feelings but like what boys are actually got at that? lol that was a little frustrating tbh but it didn’t stop me from flying through the rest of it.
Over all I loved this book and the only reason it’s not a full 5⭐️ is because i wanted a bit more at the end - we were left just shortly after the main storyline ended and i just wish we had gotten a peek at their lives in the future a bit. This gave me similar vibes to Heated Rivalry/The Long Game - but perhaps with a bit less angsty emotions about being out/outed. This is my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be interested in reading more from them in the future.
Oh boy did I have a great time with this book. Had me giggling and kicking my feet all throughout. What a delightful twist on a common trope. Perhaps a mild spoiler - but this does happen very shortly after the beginning so not exactly a spoiler- 7 years after their initial hookup as teens, Lars is traded to the same team as Ryan. Only problem is, for one reason or another that we later learn about, Lars doesn’t remember Ryan 😬
Ryan is the most unassuming hockey sweetheart and that of course draws Lars in all over again, even though he doesn’t realize it’s already happened before. AND on top of that Ryan letting Lars call him Brian for 3 fucking weeks without correctly him is SO real lol. I would absolutely have done the same 🤣🥴 The not remembering their past hookup lasts for nearly 50% of the book - so if that sounds annoying maybe this isn’t the book for you but I will say it’s so well done and it didn’t feel drawn out without reason- it felt cute and it was nice to see them fall into friendship and then more step by step. There are lots of times and little clues dropped by Ryan to try to allude to their prior hookup but Lars remains absolutely clueless (and turns out for understandable reasons) This gave us plenty of time to really get to know these characters individually and fall in love with their unique quirks. Once that misunderstanding got figured out, I appreciated that the author didn’t spend the rest of the book just jumping from sex scene to sex scene - they were hot and very much a good time but also spread out and not the main focus of the plot.
*Special shoutout to Tanner and Mormor for being real ones and excellent confidants for our boys.
I also loved the journey Lars and his brother, Anders, relationship takes. They have a painful history to contend with and a lot of unresolved emotions that bubble up. Their big moment on the ice with Lars’ outburst detailing his hurt of being left all alone just broke my heart for him (not to mention the pain of his previous team being so antagonistic toward him without knowing why he left ugh 😓) I also loved following Ryan’s journey separate from Lars - him having a history of dealing with being traded and feeling unwanted also broke my heart. I loved how Lars spent so much time pumping him up with genuine support and respect for his hockey skills to help build his confidence. Give our boy his flowers!
Yes they sucked at communicating their honest feelings but like what boys are actually got at that? lol that was a little frustrating tbh but it didn’t stop me from flying through the rest of it.
Over all I loved this book and the only reason it’s not a full 5⭐️ is because i wanted a bit more at the end - we were left just shortly after the main storyline ended and i just wish we had gotten a peek at their lives in the future a bit. This gave me similar vibes to Heated Rivalry/The Long Game - but perhaps with a bit less angsty emotions about being out/outed. This is my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be interested in reading more from them in the future.
December 1, 2024
3.5 ⬆️ 4
Men with LOTS of communication problems.
Men with LOTS of communication problems.
December 3, 2024
Sooo good
January 8, 2025
4,5⭐️ baseline rule: any book that makes my heart race and my mind think about it constantly deserves a 5 star rating. So here I am, rating a book about hockey 5 stars. Absolutely loved the writing, the characters, the setting and the romance in this.
September 29, 2024
Holy heck this was everything I wanted it to be! Adorably clueless and sweet MC + adorably self-deprecating and charming MC, kind of second-chance, idiots/friends to lovers, lots of great actual hockey content, complicated family relationships, and Swedish terms of endearment and confessions. I found myself with a goofy smile on my face and tears in my eyes several times throughout. I also loved the social media interspersed, it was done amazingly and really served its purpose well. Can’t recommend enough to any hockey romance fan. Thank you to the author for providing the ARC! 🖤
December 14, 2025
after a reread, I'm upgrading this book to five stars. I think the best thing about this book is how much actual hockey there is, Now that I consider myself an Actual Hockey Fan ™️, I only appreciate it more. And honestly, the fact that I was still rooting for Lars and Ryan's relationship after Lars repeatedly inadvertently fumbled the bag at the beginning of the book only goes to show and I really like this author's writing.
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