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Beating The Odds: A Best Friend's Brother Hockey Romance
Things I never thought I'd do this
Have a panic attack on the iceLearn how to do a backflipFall for my sister's best friend
Guess I'm batting zero for three.
Look, I had my life figured out. Hockey was my future—until one bad hit changed everything. Now I'm the star player who can barely make it through practice without freaking out. Real impressive, right?
Then Ever Adams—my little sister's best friend and the last girl I should be noticing-–offers me a crazy cheerleading. Yeah, I laughed too. But between teaching me back handsprings and showing me there's more to life than hockey, she's making me feel alive again.
The problem? Every time she spots me for a stunt, I want to pull her close. Every time she smiles, I forget she's off limits. And every time we're alone, I'm one heartbeat away from risking it all.
Now I'm facing a choice harder than any game-winning keep chasing my old dreams, or take a chance on something—and someone—completely new.
Have a panic attack on the iceLearn how to do a backflipFall for my sister's best friend
Guess I'm batting zero for three.
Look, I had my life figured out. Hockey was my future—until one bad hit changed everything. Now I'm the star player who can barely make it through practice without freaking out. Real impressive, right?
Then Ever Adams—my little sister's best friend and the last girl I should be noticing-–offers me a crazy cheerleading. Yeah, I laughed too. But between teaching me back handsprings and showing me there's more to life than hockey, she's making me feel alive again.
The problem? Every time she spots me for a stunt, I want to pull her close. Every time she smiles, I forget she's off limits. And every time we're alone, I'm one heartbeat away from risking it all.
Now I'm facing a choice harder than any game-winning keep chasing my old dreams, or take a chance on something—and someone—completely new.
- GenresSportsHockey Romance
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
12 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 13, 2025
4.5⭐️ Garrett and Ever 💖💘
Collegiate hockey star Garrett Thomas is struggling. After suffering a traumatic brain injury from a gnarly play, he’s left with a mental block that’s shaking his confidence and putting his spot on the team in jeopardy. After his first practice back, his emotional wellbeing starts to unravel and someone unexpected notices. Enter Ever Adams, his little sister’s best friend. Coincidentally, Ever has battled her own mental block in cheerleading and agrees to help Garrett work through his in an unexpected, very secretive way. The catch? They have to keep it hidden from Genny, the person they both love most.
Oh wow, this book brought me right back to my cheer days! I really appreciated how it highlights the intensity and demands of cheerleading. Lina George does an incredible job exploring the psychological toll of mental blocks in sports. That it’s not just fear, it can be debilitating, paralyzing and so hard to overcome.
Garrett and Ever are both so sweet and fiercely dedicated not just to their sports, but to helping each other. The dual POV added a lot of heart, letting us see their inner worlds and all the shy, overthinking moments that felt so real. It perfectly captured that awkward feeling in early relationships and friendships where you don’t want to seem too eager, but you care deeply.
The contrast in their upbringings added another layer of complexity, especially since Ever relies so heavily on the Thomas family for emotional support. I do wish we had more of Genny (book about Genny next, please??), though it makes sense given she’s at another college. And that epilogue? Nearly had me in tears.
This was a sweet read with surprising emotional depth. I loved it!
Collegiate hockey star Garrett Thomas is struggling. After suffering a traumatic brain injury from a gnarly play, he’s left with a mental block that’s shaking his confidence and putting his spot on the team in jeopardy. After his first practice back, his emotional wellbeing starts to unravel and someone unexpected notices. Enter Ever Adams, his little sister’s best friend. Coincidentally, Ever has battled her own mental block in cheerleading and agrees to help Garrett work through his in an unexpected, very secretive way. The catch? They have to keep it hidden from Genny, the person they both love most.
Oh wow, this book brought me right back to my cheer days! I really appreciated how it highlights the intensity and demands of cheerleading. Lina George does an incredible job exploring the psychological toll of mental blocks in sports. That it’s not just fear, it can be debilitating, paralyzing and so hard to overcome.
Garrett and Ever are both so sweet and fiercely dedicated not just to their sports, but to helping each other. The dual POV added a lot of heart, letting us see their inner worlds and all the shy, overthinking moments that felt so real. It perfectly captured that awkward feeling in early relationships and friendships where you don’t want to seem too eager, but you care deeply.
The contrast in their upbringings added another layer of complexity, especially since Ever relies so heavily on the Thomas family for emotional support. I do wish we had more of Genny (book about Genny next, please??), though it makes sense given she’s at another college. And that epilogue? Nearly had me in tears.
This was a sweet read with surprising emotional depth. I loved it!
April 26, 2025
Did I find myself googling what a basket toss is? Yes.
Am I now a certified cheerleading enthusiast? Also yes!
I devoured this book.
Garrett is struggling to recover after a terrible fall during a game, and the only person who truly gets him is Ever, who offers to help through some cheerleading cross-training sessions.
And guess what? It’s not just a cute love story (though the chemistry is top tier), it’s also a reminder that sometimes life redirects you for a reason.
This book hit me right in the feels — past me, stuck and unsure about her future, would’ve hugged it so tight.
Yes, it’s a romance, but thanks to the dual POV, you experience Ever’s lessons as if you were right there with them — and trust me, I would have needed that kind of encouragement back then.
Ever is pure sunshine — kind, funny, empathetic — and she truly sees Garrett for who he is.
And Garrett? He may struggle a bit with the idea of cheerleading at first, but watching him open up and grow was just so heartwarming.
If you loved From Lukov with Love but wished for a friends-to-lovers twist... this book is your next obsession.
Am I now a certified cheerleading enthusiast? Also yes!
I devoured this book.
Garrett is struggling to recover after a terrible fall during a game, and the only person who truly gets him is Ever, who offers to help through some cheerleading cross-training sessions.
And guess what? It’s not just a cute love story (though the chemistry is top tier), it’s also a reminder that sometimes life redirects you for a reason.
This book hit me right in the feels — past me, stuck and unsure about her future, would’ve hugged it so tight.
Yes, it’s a romance, but thanks to the dual POV, you experience Ever’s lessons as if you were right there with them — and trust me, I would have needed that kind of encouragement back then.
Ever is pure sunshine — kind, funny, empathetic — and she truly sees Garrett for who he is.
And Garrett? He may struggle a bit with the idea of cheerleading at first, but watching him open up and grow was just so heartwarming.
If you loved From Lukov with Love but wished for a friends-to-lovers twist... this book is your next obsession.
May 11, 2025
Ever is dedicated to her college studies and cheerleading, after her past issues that she now overcome she intends to show and achieve her best. Having her friend Genny aways there to talk too and just understand has helped her so much. When Garrett has his accident during hockey practice he can feel his whole future falling away. After months of physio and therapy and now back in the team and on the ice, he knows things have changed. When his sister's friend offers help he's torn, but he needs to get back to who he was. Maybe just maybe cross training may help, but it has to be kept secret who would believe a hockey player learning from a cheerleader. Can Ever keep her hidden crush hidden. Can Garrett really get his head back in the game. Will helping Garrett put Ever's friendship with Genny at risk. This is a story that covers some serious issues both carefully and compassionately. It aso proves that sometimes being open to change is a good thing and that not everything is black and white. Lina has given us a brilliantly written spicy college story. I look forward to reading more by Lina in the future
May 17, 2025
Garrett was essentially targeted by one of the senior players during training and an ‘accident’ took him out of the game for a while.
Ever is Garrett’s sisters best friend, and I spent so much time trying to work out what was going on with her. She was complex, and so mature!
This was written so well, the emotions.. you could feel them. I felt so bad for Garrett and I couldn’t imagine being in his position. What I didn’t enjoy was his back and forth. I get his fears, but he was jerking her around… however, she did let him… soo….. eh.
The gradual build of their relationship was chefs kiss. I’m glad that she had the brains to set boundaries. She took the first step and it was his turn. The fears and doubts were realistic, and I found myself super invested in the story.
This was a truly enjoyable read, with some powerful messages about making choices and staying true to oneself.
The blurb alluded to the ending, and even then, when I read it, it still shocked me.
A fantastic 5-star read, that’s for sure!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ever is Garrett’s sisters best friend, and I spent so much time trying to work out what was going on with her. She was complex, and so mature!
This was written so well, the emotions.. you could feel them. I felt so bad for Garrett and I couldn’t imagine being in his position. What I didn’t enjoy was his back and forth. I get his fears, but he was jerking her around… however, she did let him… soo….. eh.
The gradual build of their relationship was chefs kiss. I’m glad that she had the brains to set boundaries. She took the first step and it was his turn. The fears and doubts were realistic, and I found myself super invested in the story.
This was a truly enjoyable read, with some powerful messages about making choices and staying true to oneself.
The blurb alluded to the ending, and even then, when I read it, it still shocked me.
A fantastic 5-star read, that’s for sure!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2025
I LOVED reading and Ever and Garrett story. A hockey player trying to get back to full health from a head injury but the psychological damage effects it had on him is becoming debilitating. Ever steps in because she went through mental blocks and is finally helping Garrett get his break through. But then they didn’t expect to fall for each other and then Garrett decided that he wants to choose a different path in cheer-leading. The way that Genny is over the moon that her brother and best friend are finally giving in to their desires with the each other that everyone saw but they don’t want to take the plunge.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2025
Garrett has played hockey his whole life and one game changes everything. One bad hit, long recovery and a mental block he can't shake.
Ever's best friend is Garrett's sister and Ever has had a crush on him since high school. Now attending the same college as him, she knows his struggle. When he reaches out for help, can she help him overcome his menal obstacles?
This story is a journey of friendship and how that friendship can get you through the toughest things.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ever's best friend is Garrett's sister and Ever has had a crush on him since high school. Now attending the same college as him, she knows his struggle. When he reaches out for help, can she help him overcome his menal obstacles?
This story is a journey of friendship and how that friendship can get you through the toughest things.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2025
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. A devastating injury and an offer to help leads Garrett making surprising changes in the end. Ever helps him with cross training to get over his panic attacks. Their repressed feelings come out and they fall in love. I like his courage in switching sports and how they both make a success out of their careers with love and marriage as well.
June 1, 2025
Acrobatic Lessons
This was a charming story where two people helped each other to overcome their struggles. Garrett needs to make a comeback after his injury on the ice while Ever is having difficulty with her cheerleading. Together, they work on some acrobatics and the desires brewing between them. It was a fun read with great characters and an interesting plot. I could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a charming story where two people helped each other to overcome their struggles. Garrett needs to make a comeback after his injury on the ice while Ever is having difficulty with her cheerleading. Together, they work on some acrobatics and the desires brewing between them. It was a fun read with great characters and an interesting plot. I could not put it down.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews