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Puck You
For fans of spicy hockey romances like Icebreaker and The Au Pair Affair comes the story of a heated rivalry between two hockey players that develops into a romance hot enough to melt the ice from debut novelist Flynn Novak.
An on ice rivalry sparks an off ice affair . . . and puts both their hockey career in jeopardy in this steamy new adult debut by Flynn Novak
When Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, she’s excited to play top-level hockey with a high-ranking team, where she expects top-tier facilities and opportunities. But her excitement quickly fades as she learns that the women’s team isn’t a priority.
Sebastian Evans needs this year to go perfectly. It’s his last chance to prove himself to scouts for a professional hockey career. Juggling school, an old injury, and the pressure to perform is tough enough—but dealing with Grace, the fiery star from the women’s team, makes everything harder.
Neither Grace nor Sebastian wants to compete with each other, but when Grace sees how much better the men’s team is treated, she can’t stay silent. The two quickly become rivals, both on and off the ice. But when their personal conflict starts affecting their game, they risk being benched permanently. Despite the tension, sparks fly between them, and what began as a bitter rivalry might just ignite into something hot enough to melt the ice they skate on.
An on ice rivalry sparks an off ice affair . . . and puts both their hockey career in jeopardy in this steamy new adult debut by Flynn Novak
When Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, she’s excited to play top-level hockey with a high-ranking team, where she expects top-tier facilities and opportunities. But her excitement quickly fades as she learns that the women’s team isn’t a priority.
Sebastian Evans needs this year to go perfectly. It’s his last chance to prove himself to scouts for a professional hockey career. Juggling school, an old injury, and the pressure to perform is tough enough—but dealing with Grace, the fiery star from the women’s team, makes everything harder.
Neither Grace nor Sebastian wants to compete with each other, but when Grace sees how much better the men’s team is treated, she can’t stay silent. The two quickly become rivals, both on and off the ice. But when their personal conflict starts affecting their game, they risk being benched permanently. Despite the tension, sparks fly between them, and what began as a bitter rivalry might just ignite into something hot enough to melt the ice they skate on.
352 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2025
22 people are currently reading
5545 people want to read
About the author
Flynn Novak
2 books29 followersFlynn Novak grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Global Studies. Her love for writing can be attributed to her older sister and fellow author, who shared her first stories with Flynn when they were kids. In addition to writing, Flynn loves reading and collecting books—which are indeed different hobbies—traveling the world, pierogis, movie marathons, and dreaming up fantasy worlds before bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 20, 2025
3.4 ˖⁺‧✮
i finally enjoyed a sport romance! this one was light, a little spicy and easy to read. i had some favorite and not so favorite moments, so… let’s go over the book:
for the first 40% i truly hated both of the main characters. they were arrogant, mean to each other and had no empathy. it felt like those 40% had to build the tension between character (since later they had that “fuck it” moment), but honestly i didn’t feel the chemistry or tension at all. here comes the mmc. i genuinely do not understand why he had an issue with girls practicing at their area. like, why? especially since they had 2 ice practice areas and they wouldn’t even see each other. also, i have to mention the conflict of the book and that it made the mmc look so bad😭 and it happened closer to the end, which totally ruined his imagine for me. again, it felt like he didn’t know know how to listen and instead acted to his own thoughts. moving to the more positive stuff and fmc. i liked her overall, especially how empowering she was. loved her motivation and strong belief.
plot was nicely written and didn’t have any wholes. i enjoyed the writing and would definitely recommend this book for a fun evening read. the conflicts could have been easily solved (yep, miscommunication again) but they were still resolved pretty soon.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for arc of this book.
i finally enjoyed a sport romance! this one was light, a little spicy and easy to read. i had some favorite and not so favorite moments, so… let’s go over the book:
for the first 40% i truly hated both of the main characters. they were arrogant, mean to each other and had no empathy. it felt like those 40% had to build the tension between character (since later they had that “fuck it” moment), but honestly i didn’t feel the chemistry or tension at all. here comes the mmc. i genuinely do not understand why he had an issue with girls practicing at their area. like, why? especially since they had 2 ice practice areas and they wouldn’t even see each other. also, i have to mention the conflict of the book and that it made the mmc look so bad😭 and it happened closer to the end, which totally ruined his imagine for me. again, it felt like he didn’t know know how to listen and instead acted to his own thoughts. moving to the more positive stuff and fmc. i liked her overall, especially how empowering she was. loved her motivation and strong belief.
plot was nicely written and didn’t have any wholes. i enjoyed the writing and would definitely recommend this book for a fun evening read. the conflicts could have been easily solved (yep, miscommunication again) but they were still resolved pretty soon.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for arc of this book.
August 31, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC e-copy - this title releases November 2025.
College Hockey Romance - Rivals to lovers. With all the banter and shenanigans. Slow burn with tension and spice. A good fun read with strong but flawed characters.
Grace plays for the college woman’s hockey team. Having just switched to this college, she was surprised at how bad their facilities were in comparison to the men’s. Enter Sebastian, the newly returned captain who is back with something to prove after being off with an injury - and he wants nothing to get in the way of his training. When Grace pushed for the women to share the men’s facility - an all out war breaks out. But as much as they hate each other, there is an underlying attraction that bothers them more. Both dedicated, both stubborn - they continue to clash. But as the two start to understand each other better, they move to tentative friends - and maybe more - but neither can let the other in. As alike as they can be, it might just be the thing to tear them apart.
College Hockey Romance - Rivals to lovers. With all the banter and shenanigans. Slow burn with tension and spice. A good fun read with strong but flawed characters.
Grace plays for the college woman’s hockey team. Having just switched to this college, she was surprised at how bad their facilities were in comparison to the men’s. Enter Sebastian, the newly returned captain who is back with something to prove after being off with an injury - and he wants nothing to get in the way of his training. When Grace pushed for the women to share the men’s facility - an all out war breaks out. But as much as they hate each other, there is an underlying attraction that bothers them more. Both dedicated, both stubborn - they continue to clash. But as the two start to understand each other better, they move to tentative friends - and maybe more - but neither can let the other in. As alike as they can be, it might just be the thing to tear them apart.
September 19, 2025
The beginning of Puck You was a bit slow getting things started with our two mc’s. I’m a big fan of the enemy’s to lovers trope, and these two had the enemies thing so down pat, it made them both downright unlikable. Until about 40 some percent when they became more likable. Plus they both had their walls up so high even their friends and teammates had a hard time getting to know them. At first I didn’t get the big deal about why Sebastian had such a problem with sharing the arena with the girls hockey team, and even when he explained it, it was so elementary school I wanted to chuck my Kindle. Thankfully once these two fell, they were adorable. Just pacing at the beginning needed to push forward a bit more. But I liked it as a standalone, and would love to read more in a series about the teams. Both male and female.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC, my review was left honestly.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC, my review was left honestly.
August 26, 2025
I have a very hard time rating this book because there were moments that I really enjoyed. However, the moments i really enjoyed were very much outweighed by my hatred for both of the main characters. I feel like both of these people were miserable and their own worst enemies in the worst kind of way. I have a hard time jumping on board for any kind of romances that start out with bullying. I also feel like we didn’t see enough depth built over overtime for the emotions and relationship between the main characters to grow believably.I did love the writers portrayal and respect given to the family dynamics and trauma that each of the main characters had experienced regarding parents.
Thank you, net galley for the arc!
Thank you, net galley for the arc!
November 19, 2025
I love hockey romances and read a fair amount of them, but Flynn Novak’s Puck You is my first one where women’s hockey is also involved, and I’m here for it. Especially since this is very much a rivals-to-lovers type of romance, readers will also have not only Grace, who excels in college hockey, but also Sebastian, who wants to play professional hockey. Their college, though, despite the women’s team doing quite well, has focused on the men’s team.
Both Grace and Sebastian often go toe-to-toe on and off the ice. Competing for practice time, pushing each other's buttons, all the while, tension is building between them. All those snarky comments back and forth were truly them denying their feelings for each other. I loved that everyone else around them could figure that out but them.
Author Flynn Novak draws on emotional moments and tough decisions to bring these two characters together. But what I enjoyed was that they could still make light-hearted, playful digs at each other throughout their relationship. Puck You was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to @wbywattpadbooks and Author Flynn Novak for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Both Grace and Sebastian often go toe-to-toe on and off the ice. Competing for practice time, pushing each other's buttons, all the while, tension is building between them. All those snarky comments back and forth were truly them denying their feelings for each other. I loved that everyone else around them could figure that out but them.
Author Flynn Novak draws on emotional moments and tough decisions to bring these two characters together. But what I enjoyed was that they could still make light-hearted, playful digs at each other throughout their relationship. Puck You was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to @wbywattpadbooks and Author Flynn Novak for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 10, 2026
Lexi handed me this book and said “you will eat this up; you are this girl, and you may feel uh mildly attacked by that”
Lexi was indeed correct. 5 stars hahaha
Actual enemies to lovers, slow burn, a hockey romance where the FMC is actually a hockey player (it’s always the dudes!!) and a good one at that, guy falls first and harder trope, OBSESSED.
Not a perfect +/- ratio despite the star rating: didn’t love the quick wrap up/weird epilogue; also the pain of seeing my Bulldogs called Minnesota on page 1 (wrong, that would be the Gophers) and for saying sin bin over and over instead of just saying penalty box. Also never heard a goalie called first line goalie??? Weird. But I will forgive because I loved the whole of this book.
Lexi was indeed correct. 5 stars hahaha
Actual enemies to lovers, slow burn, a hockey romance where the FMC is actually a hockey player (it’s always the dudes!!) and a good one at that, guy falls first and harder trope, OBSESSED.
Not a perfect +/- ratio despite the star rating: didn’t love the quick wrap up/weird epilogue; also the pain of seeing my Bulldogs called Minnesota on page 1 (wrong, that would be the Gophers) and for saying sin bin over and over instead of just saying penalty box. Also never heard a goalie called first line goalie??? Weird. But I will forgive because I loved the whole of this book.
September 1, 2025
4 stars
I am normally not an enemies-to-lovers fan in romance books, but this one seemed more like a rivals-to-lovers that was wrapped up in the first 1/3 of the book. I will say, that the author was able to walk the line of what I would and would not tolerate during the "rivals" phase in the story. Sometimes authors do things that just can't be backtracked and I feel like we were close to that line before it was brought back.
The FMC is a new transfer to the women's hockey team and she is pissed by the inequality of the women's team compared to the mens - so she plans to do something about it. It was definitely frustrating to read those scenes even though I know it is realistic.
The MMC is on the male's hockey team and he is coming back after a severe ACL injury 2 years earlier. He has a chip on his shoulder and decides to take it out on the new transfer.
After they start to get along, we start to see more of the problems that they each have in their individuals lives.
I liked how they started to work on becoming better selves so that they can be together.
I am normally not an enemies-to-lovers fan in romance books, but this one seemed more like a rivals-to-lovers that was wrapped up in the first 1/3 of the book. I will say, that the author was able to walk the line of what I would and would not tolerate during the "rivals" phase in the story. Sometimes authors do things that just can't be backtracked and I feel like we were close to that line before it was brought back.
The FMC is a new transfer to the women's hockey team and she is pissed by the inequality of the women's team compared to the mens - so she plans to do something about it. It was definitely frustrating to read those scenes even though I know it is realistic.
The MMC is on the male's hockey team and he is coming back after a severe ACL injury 2 years earlier. He has a chip on his shoulder and decides to take it out on the new transfer.
After they start to get along, we start to see more of the problems that they each have in their individuals lives.
I liked how they started to work on becoming better selves so that they can be together.
November 17, 2025
I admit that at first I didn't like Sebastian at all, but then Grace also fell out of my favor. I don't know, I think that in some ways there are topics in this book that should be treated with much more caution, but maybe that's just my problem.
Ammetto che all'inizio Sebastian non mi stava affatto simpatico peró poi anche Grace é uscita dalle mie grazie. Non so, credo che per alcuni versi ci siano degli argomenti in questo libro che andrebbero trattati con molta piú cautela, ma magari é solo un problema mio.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Ammetto che all'inizio Sebastian non mi stava affatto simpatico peró poi anche Grace é uscita dalle mie grazie. Non so, credo che per alcuni versi ci siano degli argomenti in questo libro che andrebbero trattati con molta piú cautela, ma magari é solo un problema mio.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
January 1, 2026
I’m all for sport romances, especially with a strong FMC who knows how to stand her ground and doesn’t take BS and knows how to fight for equality for the women’s hockey team.
Or so I thought…
It started out ok, continued to be ok before it went great, then it felt not so great again.
Within the start of the book up to about 30-40% there was tension and petty revenge. In some instances it felt forced so there could be that enemies to lovers trope, it was still nice to see the FMC (Grace) taking a stance for the women’s hockey though since a lot of female athletes aren’t treated as equals in some sports. But honestly, It felt like a high school setup instead of what should be a college setting. Like bruh? The meat…in the vent? Very “Step Up 2” if you ask me - don’t get me wrong I love that movie, just in this book it felt very unnecessary and out of nowhere when the girls’ rink was already suffering.
Anyways, when the story did get good, it was after their pettiness before it turned to “frenquaintances” (grace said that instead of frenemies), then to friends (sorta), then they were friends with benefits. For the MMC (Sebastian) it was instant love/lust. He was attracted to Grace right away but he was in a relationship at the time. When his relationship ended, both were slowly being pulled into each other’s orbits. For a while nothing had happened between them, just the slow burn and heated sexual tension. Until one shared kiss at Sebastian’s birthday party - that was enough to scare grace even though she wanted it herself.
Before ALL of that ^^ Grace is strong but she guards her walls too tightly. She doesn’t trust or let people in easily. So when her and Sebastian’s “friends with benefits” trope eventually kicked in, it was pure torture to read. The amounts of time Sebastian kept saying he’s there for her when she’s ready to share is beyond me. It was sweet and I get it that she didn’t want to, but omfg was it so frustrating. So when Sebastian blows up at her closer to the end of the book, I’m sorry but I’m on his side and it is Grace’s fault (even though everyone in the book kept saying it was his, I mean he was part to blame, but she did it to herself mostly). Oh wait don’t even get me started how in this same timeframe when things got very heated (their argument) Sebastian said they were over. Um hello? You guys weren’t even dating!
Grace kept pushing him away, she pushed all her friends away and believed everyone was against her. She needed to see a therapist not her sister.
Anyways that was a little rant/review. Overall, if you liked icebreaker by Hannah Grace maybe you’d like this too (I didn’t like icebreaker so this one wasn’t for me). It was sweet and spicy (3🌶️) with force proximity, don’t get me wrong, just the characters felt very childish in some cases. If you also loved Henry from Icebreaker then you’ll love Bryce here. If the author did another book, I’m wishing it’s Bryce, he’s so niceee and doesn’t take BS either.
I was gonna give 3 stars but the last few chapters didn’t sit well with me, and it felt like some plots holes (Graces ex) and miscommunications overdrive.
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for the ARC
Or so I thought…
It started out ok, continued to be ok before it went great, then it felt not so great again.
Within the start of the book up to about 30-40% there was tension and petty revenge. In some instances it felt forced so there could be that enemies to lovers trope, it was still nice to see the FMC (Grace) taking a stance for the women’s hockey though since a lot of female athletes aren’t treated as equals in some sports. But honestly, It felt like a high school setup instead of what should be a college setting. Like bruh? The meat…in the vent? Very “Step Up 2” if you ask me - don’t get me wrong I love that movie, just in this book it felt very unnecessary and out of nowhere when the girls’ rink was already suffering.
Anyways, when the story did get good, it was after their pettiness before it turned to “frenquaintances” (grace said that instead of frenemies), then to friends (sorta), then they were friends with benefits. For the MMC (Sebastian) it was instant love/lust. He was attracted to Grace right away but he was in a relationship at the time. When his relationship ended, both were slowly being pulled into each other’s orbits. For a while nothing had happened between them, just the slow burn and heated sexual tension. Until one shared kiss at Sebastian’s birthday party - that was enough to scare grace even though she wanted it herself.
Before ALL of that ^^ Grace is strong but she guards her walls too tightly. She doesn’t trust or let people in easily. So when her and Sebastian’s “friends with benefits” trope eventually kicked in, it was pure torture to read. The amounts of time Sebastian kept saying he’s there for her when she’s ready to share is beyond me. It was sweet and I get it that she didn’t want to, but omfg was it so frustrating. So when Sebastian blows up at her closer to the end of the book, I’m sorry but I’m on his side and it is Grace’s fault (even though everyone in the book kept saying it was his, I mean he was part to blame, but she did it to herself mostly). Oh wait don’t even get me started how in this same timeframe when things got very heated (their argument) Sebastian said they were over. Um hello? You guys weren’t even dating!
Grace kept pushing him away, she pushed all her friends away and believed everyone was against her. She needed to see a therapist not her sister.
Anyways that was a little rant/review. Overall, if you liked icebreaker by Hannah Grace maybe you’d like this too (I didn’t like icebreaker so this one wasn’t for me). It was sweet and spicy (3🌶️) with force proximity, don’t get me wrong, just the characters felt very childish in some cases. If you also loved Henry from Icebreaker then you’ll love Bryce here. If the author did another book, I’m wishing it’s Bryce, he’s so niceee and doesn’t take BS either.
I was gonna give 3 stars but the last few chapters didn’t sit well with me, and it felt like some plots holes (Graces ex) and miscommunications overdrive.
Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Webtoon Book Group for the ARC
October 30, 2025
Oh, youth, when you’re trying to figure out who you are and where you fit into the world. It’s also when you start to learn that some of the things you grew up with and were taught may not be the best attitude to have. It’s where we learn things like quality, kindness, and that people are different. But that doesn’t make it a bad thing... I liked watching this relationship grow and change, which is what young adults do: they grow, they change, they learn.
I also want to give a little side note that being that this was a Wattpad post before being published into a book. It does have a slightly disjointed feel about it. Anywho, this was a fun read and I think many will enjoy it!
*Thank you to WattPadBooks & Webtoons for sharing this title with me.
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I also want to give a little side note that being that this was a Wattpad post before being published into a book. It does have a slightly disjointed feel about it. Anywho, this was a fun read and I think many will enjoy it!
*Thank you to WattPadBooks & Webtoons for sharing this title with me.
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November 2, 2025
Puck You by Flynn Novak is chaotic, steamy fun the kind of rivals-to-lovers story that has you yelling at the characters to just kiss already preferably before one of them checks the other into the boards again!
Grace Gillman is my new favorite hockey heroine. She’s fierce, outspoken, and refuses to sit quietly while the women’s team gets the short end of the stick. She’s got talent, fire, and the kind of confidence that makes her both enviable and relatable. Enter Sebastian Evans, the golden boy of Dallard University hockey. He’s laser-focused on going pro, juggling an old injury, high expectations, and now a stubbornly brilliant woman who challenges everything about his game and his ego.
Their chemistry? Off the charts! Every time they shared the ice or the locker room hallway, or basically any space that required breathing the same air I could feel the tension. It’s sharp, funny, and oh-so-electric. I love that Novak doesn’t just give us spice though, trust me, the spice delivers, but also digs into real themes like gender equity in sports, pressure, and learning to trust someone even when they drive you absolutely crazy.
By the time I reached the last page, I was grinning like a fool. Puck You is the perfect mix of sass, heart, and heat a must-read for anyone who loves sports romance with bite and banter.
⚡️Thank you Wattpad Books and Flynn Novak for sharing this book with me!
Grace Gillman is my new favorite hockey heroine. She’s fierce, outspoken, and refuses to sit quietly while the women’s team gets the short end of the stick. She’s got talent, fire, and the kind of confidence that makes her both enviable and relatable. Enter Sebastian Evans, the golden boy of Dallard University hockey. He’s laser-focused on going pro, juggling an old injury, high expectations, and now a stubbornly brilliant woman who challenges everything about his game and his ego.
Their chemistry? Off the charts! Every time they shared the ice or the locker room hallway, or basically any space that required breathing the same air I could feel the tension. It’s sharp, funny, and oh-so-electric. I love that Novak doesn’t just give us spice though, trust me, the spice delivers, but also digs into real themes like gender equity in sports, pressure, and learning to trust someone even when they drive you absolutely crazy.
By the time I reached the last page, I was grinning like a fool. Puck You is the perfect mix of sass, heart, and heat a must-read for anyone who loves sports romance with bite and banter.
⚡️Thank you Wattpad Books and Flynn Novak for sharing this book with me!
September 4, 2025
3.5⭐️ - solid read! I’m so excited for Flynn - her writing reminds me a lot of Becka Mack/Avery Keelan. Enemies-to-lovers, in places a grumpy/sunshine feel where both main characters are athletes and very competitive (mostly with each other), but as soon as they get together you know it’s endgame.
The book also calls out my 2 teams: Go Red Wings & Broncos! Great taste in teams 😉
For a good majority of the book, I had a hard time connecting with Grace - she had relatable story lines - and I felt for her with mental health and family struggles. I feel her hard shell was so tough that not only did the characters struggle to see through, but the reader did a bit as well. I would have loved to see Grace’s soft side open up internally a bit earlier so it matched up with Sebastian opening up internally earlier.
Sebastian also came off a little tough, but with him falling harder for Grace first, we saw him soften much faster which I think helped with our connection with him.
For the ending, I had quite a few questions that weren’t answered: did Sebastian made it into the NHL, did Grace get into grad school and is it near Sebastian, are they still together? There are a lot of other characters that we could see their own books too - but a quick chapter with those questions answered would have rounded out these characters and set us up for who’s next.
The book also calls out my 2 teams: Go Red Wings & Broncos! Great taste in teams 😉
For a good majority of the book, I had a hard time connecting with Grace - she had relatable story lines - and I felt for her with mental health and family struggles. I feel her hard shell was so tough that not only did the characters struggle to see through, but the reader did a bit as well. I would have loved to see Grace’s soft side open up internally a bit earlier so it matched up with Sebastian opening up internally earlier.
Sebastian also came off a little tough, but with him falling harder for Grace first, we saw him soften much faster which I think helped with our connection with him.
For the ending, I had quite a few questions that weren’t answered: did Sebastian made it into the NHL, did Grace get into grad school and is it near Sebastian, are they still together? There are a lot of other characters that we could see their own books too - but a quick chapter with those questions answered would have rounded out these characters and set us up for who’s next.
October 27, 2025
So it took a minute to get into the story. The beginning was so slow. Not to mention I feel like a lot was left unsaid between Grace, the FMC, and the whole ordeal with her mom. I mean I’m definitely glad there was the heart to heart with her younger sister but yea I totally understand the hurt and betrayal she felt especially from her dad.
I didn’t quite understand the pettiness of Sebastian not wanting the girls to use their stadium that had two rinks! It seemed juvenile but once they finally gave into their feelings it made the story so much better. One last thing I don’t agree with and maybe I’m wrong on the timeline but at the end they basically didn’t speak for almost a month and a half? All so he could do the big gesture, which albeit was sweet, but to me that’s just a really long time with no groveling.
Thank you Netgalley and Flynn Novak for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I didn’t quite understand the pettiness of Sebastian not wanting the girls to use their stadium that had two rinks! It seemed juvenile but once they finally gave into their feelings it made the story so much better. One last thing I don’t agree with and maybe I’m wrong on the timeline but at the end they basically didn’t speak for almost a month and a half? All so he could do the big gesture, which albeit was sweet, but to me that’s just a really long time with no groveling.
Thank you Netgalley and Flynn Novak for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
not-for-me
November 29, 2025DNFed at 20%. I was psyched to read a romance with an excellent woman hockey player who battles sexism. Her character was as good as promised, but the book itself was sexist. First of all, her background character building is at the expense of a woman - in this case a mentally ill mother. Secondly, the first time the male love interest fantasizes about her, she is crying while giving him head. “I was greeted by the sight of wide chocolate eyes glossed over with moisture, tears streaming down her face.” We do not see her fantasize about having sex with him, so there’s no reciprocal fantasy scene of him sobbing while eating pussy. Not that I would want one. But yuck. This is my male love interest?
November 14, 2025
The perfect hockey romance to kick off the winter hibernation reads. I really enjoyed that both main characters were college athletes of the same sport. While the book follows the enemies-to-lovers/rivals-to-lovers (my fav) tropes, I really appreciated that the payoff was more than just them falling in love, but also recognizing the skill and devotion they both had for hockey. Loved that the book was filled with all the banter and shenanigans. The side characters were also quite good, and I can definitely see this evolving into a series following each couple. Overall, a good, fun read with strong but flawed characters.
*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
November 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this novel.
Sports romance, frenemies, banter that is bantering, and all in a college setting?! Sign me up. If you like all of these like I do, pick this one up on release day!
Sports romance, frenemies, banter that is bantering, and all in a college setting?! Sign me up. If you like all of these like I do, pick this one up on release day!
November 7, 2025
This book was pure brain candy. I thought it was a fun read, but those characters needed some development.
Grace and Sebastian are college hockey players who can't stand each other. Sebastian is recovering from a severe injury and just wants to focus on hockey. Grace transferred to be close to her family and is angry about the abysmal practice facilities that the women's hockey team has to deal with. Their sparks quickly create chemistry and they start dating, but can they make a relationship last with all their insecurities?
This read like a YA novel with spice. Technically they are NA, but they didn't seem very mature at times. Sebastian is especially unlikable at the beginning of the book. Eventually we got to a point where they were cute together, but then the spice took over. I thought the third act breakup both took too long to resolve and lacked the proper amount of groveling. Overall, this was a cute, brain candy type of book if you are in the mood to escape!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad books for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.
Grace and Sebastian are college hockey players who can't stand each other. Sebastian is recovering from a severe injury and just wants to focus on hockey. Grace transferred to be close to her family and is angry about the abysmal practice facilities that the women's hockey team has to deal with. Their sparks quickly create chemistry and they start dating, but can they make a relationship last with all their insecurities?
This read like a YA novel with spice. Technically they are NA, but they didn't seem very mature at times. Sebastian is especially unlikable at the beginning of the book. Eventually we got to a point where they were cute together, but then the spice took over. I thought the third act breakup both took too long to resolve and lacked the proper amount of groveling. Overall, this was a cute, brain candy type of book if you are in the mood to escape!
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad books for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.
December 8, 2025
4.75 - Thank you so much to Wattpad for the complimentary copy of this book!
This book is out now!
I am fully in my hockey romance era and my oh my I love a college romance! The characters are usually care free, still figuring themselves out while also being very determined and the books tend to be spicy. I am typically not a fan of slow burns because I love when things happen fairly quickly. The way that Novak wrote this kept me on my toes and was building the tension between Grace and Sebastian.
Grace and Sebastian HATED each other. They both equally agreed in their POVs that they found each other attractive but there was just no way they could ever make anything of it because of how much they did not like one another. Plus Sebastian was DATING someone in the first quarter of the book. What first attracted Sebastian to Grace was that she was a hockey player like himself. They had this shared interest that Kate (his gf) could not understand. Just like with a lot of women's sports (professional and collegiate), the men's program receives all the attention and money despite not being as achieved. And Grace was not standing for it. The first half did not show them in the best of light but they could only go up from there. I did love seeing the shenanigans that would ensue with her trying to get the attention of the school
"This was supposed to be about you"
"It's about us and I had to remind you that I'm good with my mouth as well."
"Feel free to remind me whenever you want."
Sebastian was so gone for Grace and it really did make his feelings with his girlfriend very complicated. As the reader you could see the cracks in their foundation but Sebastian felt loyal to her after she stood by him through his injury and rehab. But ultimately they were not right for one another (don't worry Kate gets her happily ever after as well). I will admit the first half of the book was a little slow even with the building of the relationship between the two. But once the flirting and banter started to ramp up, I was tapping more and more feverishly. The first time Grace and Sebastian get together - WHEWWW and all the times after that WHEWWWW. I really felt bad for Grace when Sebastian came after her after a misunderstanding leading to them breaking up for a bit. There was a lot going on in Grace's world which I was so proud of her for eventually opening up to Sebastian. She was very guarded (for good reasons) and really needed to just let herself loose. And I was mad at him for not allowing her to explain herself when she had a real situation happening. I won't divulge any further but you'll know what I mean when you read it.
Despite the slower start, I really enjoyed this book and was craving for more of Grace and Sebastian. Also I didn't even mentioned how fun the supporting characters were. I love the friendship that Grace made with her roommates and then the friendship between Sebastian and his teammates.
I recommend if you are looking for a collegiate, spicy, enemies to lovers but make them athletes read this winter season!
PS - I'm a sucker for an ice skating date moment!!!
This book is out now!
I am fully in my hockey romance era and my oh my I love a college romance! The characters are usually care free, still figuring themselves out while also being very determined and the books tend to be spicy. I am typically not a fan of slow burns because I love when things happen fairly quickly. The way that Novak wrote this kept me on my toes and was building the tension between Grace and Sebastian.
Grace and Sebastian HATED each other. They both equally agreed in their POVs that they found each other attractive but there was just no way they could ever make anything of it because of how much they did not like one another. Plus Sebastian was DATING someone in the first quarter of the book. What first attracted Sebastian to Grace was that she was a hockey player like himself. They had this shared interest that Kate (his gf) could not understand. Just like with a lot of women's sports (professional and collegiate), the men's program receives all the attention and money despite not being as achieved. And Grace was not standing for it. The first half did not show them in the best of light but they could only go up from there. I did love seeing the shenanigans that would ensue with her trying to get the attention of the school
"This was supposed to be about you"
"It's about us and I had to remind you that I'm good with my mouth as well."
"Feel free to remind me whenever you want."
Sebastian was so gone for Grace and it really did make his feelings with his girlfriend very complicated. As the reader you could see the cracks in their foundation but Sebastian felt loyal to her after she stood by him through his injury and rehab. But ultimately they were not right for one another (don't worry Kate gets her happily ever after as well). I will admit the first half of the book was a little slow even with the building of the relationship between the two. But once the flirting and banter started to ramp up, I was tapping more and more feverishly. The first time Grace and Sebastian get together - WHEWWW and all the times after that WHEWWWW. I really felt bad for Grace when Sebastian came after her after a misunderstanding leading to them breaking up for a bit. There was a lot going on in Grace's world which I was so proud of her for eventually opening up to Sebastian. She was very guarded (for good reasons) and really needed to just let herself loose. And I was mad at him for not allowing her to explain herself when she had a real situation happening. I won't divulge any further but you'll know what I mean when you read it.
Despite the slower start, I really enjoyed this book and was craving for more of Grace and Sebastian. Also I didn't even mentioned how fun the supporting characters were. I love the friendship that Grace made with her roommates and then the friendship between Sebastian and his teammates.
I recommend if you are looking for a collegiate, spicy, enemies to lovers but make them athletes read this winter season!
PS - I'm a sucker for an ice skating date moment!!!
November 12, 2025
I love a good “girl power” sports romance, and this one was on point! This novel is full of your favorite tropes, with my absolute favorite as the star: enemies to lovers. You get hockey, but not just men’s hockey, you get women’s too! Throw in a little bit of traumatic backstory, gender equality, he falls first, rivalry bets, and slow burn - you got yourself the perfect college romance story!
Right off the bat, I just knew that the two main characters, Grace and Sebastian, were going to be enemies to lovers.. it was glaringly obvious by the building tension in that opening chapter haha. I absolutely loved how the author started the book off and set the playing field for the remainder of the story.
Because it’s a slow burn, it does get frustrating at points. There were so many times I wanted to smack them and scream “kiss already!!” And when the MMC has his big “f*ck it” moment and they finally give in…. I was ecstatic. Though that feeling didn’t last for long. Due to that traumatic backstory I mentioned, the FMC refuses to start a relationship and well, the MMC wants nothing but a relationship… you can already see that being an issue. As the story progresses things only get worse and eventually the blow up happens. The MMC hits his breaking point and explodes, literally, tearing at every insecurity the FMC has - even I was shocked by that turn of events! After the fall out, the MMC realizes he screwed up and immediately sets things in motion to make amends. The couple reunites, makes up, and lives happily ever after… that’s basically the end 😅
Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading this book and it had a great storyline. Though I had several questions almost the entire time that went unanswered. The books main focus was on gender equality in the beginning and how the women’s team was treated like dirt. Once the stadium they practiced at was out of order due to the meat incident, it felt like everything just fizzled out and that storyline ended, and focused on the love part of the story. Also, Grace is so against having a relationship and wants things to be casual, but everyone knows they’re together? I mean, everyone has seen them together and some have even heard them doing spicy scenes… so is it really the label she didn’t want? It was confusing especially during the exboyfriend part in the parking lot.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, and I hope more is to come - possibly a sequel involving Sam or Caroline 🙏🏼
Rated: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* I received a free eARC of this book from Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Right off the bat, I just knew that the two main characters, Grace and Sebastian, were going to be enemies to lovers.. it was glaringly obvious by the building tension in that opening chapter haha. I absolutely loved how the author started the book off and set the playing field for the remainder of the story.
Because it’s a slow burn, it does get frustrating at points. There were so many times I wanted to smack them and scream “kiss already!!” And when the MMC has his big “f*ck it” moment and they finally give in…. I was ecstatic. Though that feeling didn’t last for long. Due to that traumatic backstory I mentioned, the FMC refuses to start a relationship and well, the MMC wants nothing but a relationship… you can already see that being an issue. As the story progresses things only get worse and eventually the blow up happens. The MMC hits his breaking point and explodes, literally, tearing at every insecurity the FMC has - even I was shocked by that turn of events! After the fall out, the MMC realizes he screwed up and immediately sets things in motion to make amends. The couple reunites, makes up, and lives happily ever after… that’s basically the end 😅
Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading this book and it had a great storyline. Though I had several questions almost the entire time that went unanswered. The books main focus was on gender equality in the beginning and how the women’s team was treated like dirt. Once the stadium they practiced at was out of order due to the meat incident, it felt like everything just fizzled out and that storyline ended, and focused on the love part of the story. Also, Grace is so against having a relationship and wants things to be casual, but everyone knows they’re together? I mean, everyone has seen them together and some have even heard them doing spicy scenes… so is it really the label she didn’t want? It was confusing especially during the exboyfriend part in the parking lot.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, and I hope more is to come - possibly a sequel involving Sam or Caroline 🙏🏼
Rated: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* I received a free eARC of this book from Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
As someone who grew up reading books on Wattpad, seeing these stories traditionally published is always so exciting to me. This is one I never did read on the original platform, but I was still super excited to pick up the traditionally published version to try!
Our FMC, Grace, is new to Dallard University and is excited to play hockey with their incredible women's team. Except the practice center given to the women is not what she expected, and definitely not suitable for practices. Our MMC, Sebastian, is the star of the men's hockey team, which certainly gets better treatment than the women's. He's coming back after an injury, needs this year to go perfectly, and isn't going to let Grace screw it up.
This one was filled with tropes and themes that intrigued me, but unfortunately it didn't quite land for me. I really enjoyed Grace, she was a great FMC to follow. The plotline of her fighting for fair treatment for the women's team was so interesting to follow and definitely had me hooked from the start. The commentary on sexism and feminism were so great.
My main issue with this story was with Sebastian. This is an enemies to lovers romance, and you can definitely feel the hatred between the two. However, I found Sebastian's actions didn't feel completely justified, and honestly left me feeling kind of icky. The author tried to explain the reasoning behind how he acted, but I felt it wasn't enough to redeem him for me, and therefore I was never rooting for the relationship. He not only came across as a jerk at the beginning, but also as sexist and misogynistic. His feelings for Grace (and hers for him) also completely did a 180 and I felt that the slow build/tension that is usually included in an enemies to lovers was very lackluster. There was no where near enough grovelling from Sebastian to make the relationship worth it for me.
Outside of the romance, everything else was quite enjoyable for me, which is why this is still getting a 3 stars. There was an incredible cast of characters that felt well developed and gave a great found family vibe. I loved how the friendships were really developed and didn't feel like an afterthought to the romance. I also really enjoyed the storyline with Grace and her sister. I thought it was well done and it was interesting.
Overall, this wasn't a bad book. The writing was good, and the plot and characters were well developed. My main issue was with the MMC, which unfortunately did really hinder my enjoyment. But I still recommend picking this up, especially if you're interested in a college hockey romance!
As someone who grew up reading books on Wattpad, seeing these stories traditionally published is always so exciting to me. This is one I never did read on the original platform, but I was still super excited to pick up the traditionally published version to try!
Our FMC, Grace, is new to Dallard University and is excited to play hockey with their incredible women's team. Except the practice center given to the women is not what she expected, and definitely not suitable for practices. Our MMC, Sebastian, is the star of the men's hockey team, which certainly gets better treatment than the women's. He's coming back after an injury, needs this year to go perfectly, and isn't going to let Grace screw it up.
This one was filled with tropes and themes that intrigued me, but unfortunately it didn't quite land for me. I really enjoyed Grace, she was a great FMC to follow. The plotline of her fighting for fair treatment for the women's team was so interesting to follow and definitely had me hooked from the start. The commentary on sexism and feminism were so great.
My main issue with this story was with Sebastian. This is an enemies to lovers romance, and you can definitely feel the hatred between the two. However, I found Sebastian's actions didn't feel completely justified, and honestly left me feeling kind of icky. The author tried to explain the reasoning behind how he acted, but I felt it wasn't enough to redeem him for me, and therefore I was never rooting for the relationship. He not only came across as a jerk at the beginning, but also as sexist and misogynistic. His feelings for Grace (and hers for him) also completely did a 180 and I felt that the slow build/tension that is usually included in an enemies to lovers was very lackluster. There was no where near enough grovelling from Sebastian to make the relationship worth it for me.
Outside of the romance, everything else was quite enjoyable for me, which is why this is still getting a 3 stars. There was an incredible cast of characters that felt well developed and gave a great found family vibe. I loved how the friendships were really developed and didn't feel like an afterthought to the romance. I also really enjoyed the storyline with Grace and her sister. I thought it was well done and it was interesting.
Overall, this wasn't a bad book. The writing was good, and the plot and characters were well developed. My main issue was with the MMC, which unfortunately did really hinder my enjoyment. But I still recommend picking this up, especially if you're interested in a college hockey romance!
November 5, 2025
2.5 stars (rounded up)
Enemies-to-lovers trope? Sold.
Hockey romance? You got me.
Two of my favorite tropes ... yet I’m struggling to write this review. So, fair warning: this one’s a bit long.
Grace transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, excited to finally play top-level hockey. But she quickly realizes that the women’s hockey rink is a dump compared to the men’s state-of-the-art facility. Meanwhile, Sebastian (Seb), the men’s team captain and hockey superstar, is battling an old injury and needs this season to go perfectly. When Grace decides to take a stand against the unfair treatment between the teams, sparks fly and what follows is a story of growth, self-discovery, and falling in love.
The overall plot was fine, and I really appreciated the dual POV, which made the story more engaging and kept me reading. I loved that Grace was a feminist who stood up for the injustice faced by the women’s team. It was empowering to see her teammates rally around her. The last 15% of the book was especially enjoyable; I couldn’t stop reading because I genuinely wanted to see how it all wrapped up. I also appreciated the detailed hockey scenes, which added authenticity to the story.
However, I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, especially Seb. Even though they’re university seniors, both came across as a bit immature and emotionally stunted. There was a lot of miscommunication (or maybe just a lack of communication) between them. As team captain, Seb didn’t feel much like a leader. His childish pranks, borderline misogynistic behavior, and moments of bullying toward Grace made it hard to root for him.
Both Grace and Seb struggle with emotional growth, which is understandable, but I didn’t see much progress throughout the story.
Also, for a book centered around gender equality in hockey, I wish there had been more focus on the women’s games themselves. I would’ve loved a few more scenes showing Grace actually playing ... but that’s just a personal preference.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Enemies-to-lovers trope? Sold.
Hockey romance? You got me.
Two of my favorite tropes ... yet I’m struggling to write this review. So, fair warning: this one’s a bit long.
Grace transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, excited to finally play top-level hockey. But she quickly realizes that the women’s hockey rink is a dump compared to the men’s state-of-the-art facility. Meanwhile, Sebastian (Seb), the men’s team captain and hockey superstar, is battling an old injury and needs this season to go perfectly. When Grace decides to take a stand against the unfair treatment between the teams, sparks fly and what follows is a story of growth, self-discovery, and falling in love.
The overall plot was fine, and I really appreciated the dual POV, which made the story more engaging and kept me reading. I loved that Grace was a feminist who stood up for the injustice faced by the women’s team. It was empowering to see her teammates rally around her. The last 15% of the book was especially enjoyable; I couldn’t stop reading because I genuinely wanted to see how it all wrapped up. I also appreciated the detailed hockey scenes, which added authenticity to the story.
However, I had a hard time connecting with the main characters, especially Seb. Even though they’re university seniors, both came across as a bit immature and emotionally stunted. There was a lot of miscommunication (or maybe just a lack of communication) between them. As team captain, Seb didn’t feel much like a leader. His childish pranks, borderline misogynistic behavior, and moments of bullying toward Grace made it hard to root for him.
Both Grace and Seb struggle with emotional growth, which is understandable, but I didn’t see much progress throughout the story.
Also, for a book centered around gender equality in hockey, I wish there had been more focus on the women’s games themselves. I would’ve loved a few more scenes showing Grace actually playing ... but that’s just a personal preference.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 18, 2025
📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚
Puck You by Flynn Novak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Thank you, @wbywattpadbooks and @netgalley, for providing an ARC!
When Grace transfers to Dallard University for her senior year to play top-level hockey and stay close to her younger sister, she’s stunned by how differently the women’s team is treated compared to the men’s. She refuses to let it slide and helps spark a push for equal facilities, immediately putting her at odds with Sebastian, the men’s team captain.
Sebastian is fighting for a full comeback after a Frozen Four injury. He needs this season to go perfectly to prove to the NHL team that drafted him that he’s still worth the investment. Balancing school, hockey, and a crumbling relationship with his girlfriend is already a lot, and Grace’s campaign only adds to the pressure.
Soon, the two are butting heads on and off the ice. Their rivalry starts to affect their performance, and neither of them can afford that. But beneath all the tension is a spark neither of them can ignore. Will they give in, or will they keep clashing?
I really enjoyed this one! Sebastian’s redemption arc is wonderful—he transforms from a moody, selfish jerk concerned only with his recovery into someone willing to put Grace first, even if it means reevaluating his hockey future. I didn’t think I’d warm up to him in the first few chapters, but I absolutely did.
Grace was an easy character to love. She’s a powerhouse on the ice and willing to risk her scholarship to advocate for equal treatment. Her loyalty runs deep, especially with her sister, and I admire that she transferred schools to support her through a tough time.
If you want a competitive hockey romance with emotional depth and excellent banter, add this to your TBR.
For fans of:
🏒 College athletes | ⚔️ Strangers to enemies to lovers | ❤️🔥 He falls first | 👥 Family trauma | 🧠 Mental health rep
#PuckYou #FlynnNovak #ARCReview #CollegeRomance #HockeyRomance #SportsRomanceBooks #EnemiesToLovers #NetGalleyARC
Puck You by Flynn Novak
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Thank you, @wbywattpadbooks and @netgalley, for providing an ARC!
When Grace transfers to Dallard University for her senior year to play top-level hockey and stay close to her younger sister, she’s stunned by how differently the women’s team is treated compared to the men’s. She refuses to let it slide and helps spark a push for equal facilities, immediately putting her at odds with Sebastian, the men’s team captain.
Sebastian is fighting for a full comeback after a Frozen Four injury. He needs this season to go perfectly to prove to the NHL team that drafted him that he’s still worth the investment. Balancing school, hockey, and a crumbling relationship with his girlfriend is already a lot, and Grace’s campaign only adds to the pressure.
Soon, the two are butting heads on and off the ice. Their rivalry starts to affect their performance, and neither of them can afford that. But beneath all the tension is a spark neither of them can ignore. Will they give in, or will they keep clashing?
I really enjoyed this one! Sebastian’s redemption arc is wonderful—he transforms from a moody, selfish jerk concerned only with his recovery into someone willing to put Grace first, even if it means reevaluating his hockey future. I didn’t think I’d warm up to him in the first few chapters, but I absolutely did.
Grace was an easy character to love. She’s a powerhouse on the ice and willing to risk her scholarship to advocate for equal treatment. Her loyalty runs deep, especially with her sister, and I admire that she transferred schools to support her through a tough time.
If you want a competitive hockey romance with emotional depth and excellent banter, add this to your TBR.
For fans of:
🏒 College athletes | ⚔️ Strangers to enemies to lovers | ❤️🔥 He falls first | 👥 Family trauma | 🧠 Mental health rep
#PuckYou #FlynnNovak #ARCReview #CollegeRomance #HockeyRomance #SportsRomanceBooks #EnemiesToLovers #NetGalleyARC
November 7, 2025
For starters, I didn't know what to expect from this book, but this book surprised me - in a good way!
This is a college romance in which Grace had moved to Dallard University to play on the women’s hockey team only to meet Sebastian, the men’s hockey captain. What ensues is a fierce rival turned enemies to lovers relationship that had me laughing, swooning, and cheering.
This book is cheesy, funny, angsty, riveting, interesting, romantic, etc and etc. I found myself unable to put it down. I was so invested into the storyline. It’s written in dual POV and was easy to read and follow along. The story got better and better as it went along.
The characters were wonderfully thought out and plotted. They had their faults and nuances which is understandable-they both had trauma and stuff to work through and unpack. It was very realistic in it’s nature.
I found the enemies to acquaintances to lovers trope wonderful. Seeing them develop these feelings and fight it, was satisfying, especially once they stopped fighting and gave in to their feelings.
The angst was angsty…the steam was steamy (very well written steam), and the enemies to lovers was enemies-to-lovering in the best of ways that made me not want to quit reading.
This book is also very funny. I was hollering laughing at several parts. Kudos to the author on the humor front.
All in all, if you like hockey romance, I think you’d like this one. It’s got a little bit of everything to satisfy all tastes I think.
I’d love to see another book in this series…maybe with some of the other characters in the book.
Tropes and themes: angst, enemies to lovers, hockey romance, college romance, trauma, family issues, depression, anxiety, abandonment, parent death, new relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC
This is a college romance in which Grace had moved to Dallard University to play on the women’s hockey team only to meet Sebastian, the men’s hockey captain. What ensues is a fierce rival turned enemies to lovers relationship that had me laughing, swooning, and cheering.
This book is cheesy, funny, angsty, riveting, interesting, romantic, etc and etc. I found myself unable to put it down. I was so invested into the storyline. It’s written in dual POV and was easy to read and follow along. The story got better and better as it went along.
The characters were wonderfully thought out and plotted. They had their faults and nuances which is understandable-they both had trauma and stuff to work through and unpack. It was very realistic in it’s nature.
I found the enemies to acquaintances to lovers trope wonderful. Seeing them develop these feelings and fight it, was satisfying, especially once they stopped fighting and gave in to their feelings.
The angst was angsty…the steam was steamy (very well written steam), and the enemies to lovers was enemies-to-lovering in the best of ways that made me not want to quit reading.
This book is also very funny. I was hollering laughing at several parts. Kudos to the author on the humor front.
All in all, if you like hockey romance, I think you’d like this one. It’s got a little bit of everything to satisfy all tastes I think.
I’d love to see another book in this series…maybe with some of the other characters in the book.
Tropes and themes: angst, enemies to lovers, hockey romance, college romance, trauma, family issues, depression, anxiety, abandonment, parent death, new relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC
October 3, 2025
I went into Puck You expecting a lighthearted hockey romance, but I was happily surprised by the depth this story delivered. Instead of just sticking to the familiar beats of a sports romance, it explores mental health, past trauma, and the way those struggles ripple through family and relationships.
Grace, is strong and resilient, learning how to navigate the weight of her past while still opening herself up to new possibilities. Sebastian, on the other hand, starts out proud and arrogant, convinced that hockey is the only thing that defines him. Over time, he learns that there’s more to life (and to himself) than the sport he’s built his identity around. Watching him grow and soften was one of the highlights of the story. The romance itself balances enemies to lovers tension with just the right amount of “will they, won’t they” without ever becoming frustrating.
I especially loved that Grace’s and Sebastian’s shared passion for hockey wasn’t just a backdrop, but an authentic part of what connects them. It made their relationship feel believable and organic, just two people finding common ground in something they both love while healing from what life has thrown at them.
Puck You is more than a sports romance, it’s a heartfelt story about resilience, self-discovery, and the quiet battles people carry. It’s a reminder that you never truly know what someone else has been through, and how love, growth, and a little hockey can help mend even the deepest wounds.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grace, is strong and resilient, learning how to navigate the weight of her past while still opening herself up to new possibilities. Sebastian, on the other hand, starts out proud and arrogant, convinced that hockey is the only thing that defines him. Over time, he learns that there’s more to life (and to himself) than the sport he’s built his identity around. Watching him grow and soften was one of the highlights of the story. The romance itself balances enemies to lovers tension with just the right amount of “will they, won’t they” without ever becoming frustrating.
I especially loved that Grace’s and Sebastian’s shared passion for hockey wasn’t just a backdrop, but an authentic part of what connects them. It made their relationship feel believable and organic, just two people finding common ground in something they both love while healing from what life has thrown at them.
Puck You is more than a sports romance, it’s a heartfelt story about resilience, self-discovery, and the quiet battles people carry. It’s a reminder that you never truly know what someone else has been through, and how love, growth, and a little hockey can help mend even the deepest wounds.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2025
Rating: ★★★½ (3.5 out of 5 stars)
What Worked for Me:
I loved the hockey romance setting—I loved the description of the ice time and how much the characters loved to skate.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was compelling and kept me hooked in to find out what would happen.
What Didn’t Work as Well:
The character dynamics felt excessively harsh—their hostility toward each other was so strong it became difficult to stay fully engaged.
In particular, Grace’s behavior toward Sebastian came across as overly intense and off-putting, making her seem either petty or broadly resentful toward men. At times, I found myself sympathizing with Sebastian more than the narrative likely intended.
Her backstory didn’t quite explain her behavior for me; it felt either underdeveloped or too emotionally fraught relative to what had transpired in her life. It was like she was imaging slights from her family to excuse being a mean person.
Overall Thoughts:
If you enjoy sports-set romances and the emotional tension of enemies-to-lovers tropes. While it had engaging elements, the character shifts occasionally disrupted the emotional flow. If you're looking for a passionate, hockey-fueled romance and are willing to overlook some tonal mismatches, you will probably enjoy this book.
Please note, I did receive this ARC for free; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
What Worked for Me:
I loved the hockey romance setting—I loved the description of the ice time and how much the characters loved to skate.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was compelling and kept me hooked in to find out what would happen.
What Didn’t Work as Well:
The character dynamics felt excessively harsh—their hostility toward each other was so strong it became difficult to stay fully engaged.
In particular, Grace’s behavior toward Sebastian came across as overly intense and off-putting, making her seem either petty or broadly resentful toward men. At times, I found myself sympathizing with Sebastian more than the narrative likely intended.
Her backstory didn’t quite explain her behavior for me; it felt either underdeveloped or too emotionally fraught relative to what had transpired in her life. It was like she was imaging slights from her family to excuse being a mean person.
Overall Thoughts:
If you enjoy sports-set romances and the emotional tension of enemies-to-lovers tropes. While it had engaging elements, the character shifts occasionally disrupted the emotional flow. If you're looking for a passionate, hockey-fueled romance and are willing to overlook some tonal mismatches, you will probably enjoy this book.
Please note, I did receive this ARC for free; I am writing this honest review voluntarily and appreciate the opportunity provided by the author to review this book.
August 25, 2025
Puck You by Flynn Novak is a college hockey romance that hits all the right notes—from sizzling chemistry to emotional depth. At its heart are two well-developed and complex characters: Sebastian and Grace. Both face personal struggles, but what makes this story truly compelling is how they grow together, learning to navigate their differences in a way that feels authentic and beautifully complementary.
This is a true enemies-to-lovers story, executed with a fresh take on the miscommunication trope. It’s written realistically, never feeling dragged out or forced, which is a rare and refreshing treat in this genre. The banter between characters is sharp, funny, and at times had me giggling out loud—especially in moments involving the strong cast of secondary characters, who genuinely add to the plot rather than just filling space.
Let’s talk spice: The attraction between Sebastian and Grace practically sizzles off the page, and yet it never overshadows the emotional and narrative arcs. The plot itself is engaging, cohesive, and free of holes.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this book.
Flynn’s writing is seamless and addictive. If you're into well-executed tropes, dynamic characters, and a romance that brings both heat and heart, this is an absolute must-read.
This is a true enemies-to-lovers story, executed with a fresh take on the miscommunication trope. It’s written realistically, never feeling dragged out or forced, which is a rare and refreshing treat in this genre. The banter between characters is sharp, funny, and at times had me giggling out loud—especially in moments involving the strong cast of secondary characters, who genuinely add to the plot rather than just filling space.
Let’s talk spice: The attraction between Sebastian and Grace practically sizzles off the page, and yet it never overshadows the emotional and narrative arcs. The plot itself is engaging, cohesive, and free of holes.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this book.
Flynn’s writing is seamless and addictive. If you're into well-executed tropes, dynamic characters, and a romance that brings both heat and heart, this is an absolute must-read.
August 30, 2025
🏒🔥 BOOK REVIEW 🔥🏒
Puck You by Flynn Novak
If you love spicy hockey rivals-to-lovers romances in the vein of Icebreaker and The Au Pair Affair, this debut is about to slide right into your favorites list.
Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, ready to crush it on the women’s hockey team only to find out they’re treated like second-class athletes compared to the men. Enter Sebastian Evans, campus hockey golden boy, with one last shot to impress scouts and secure his pro career. Their rivalry ignites fast, fueled by Grace’s refusal to stay quiet and Sebastian’s desperate need to keep control. But the line between hate and heat? Yeah, it melts quicker than ice in overtime.
What you’ll get in Puck You:
✨ Rivals-to-lovers fire that turns into full-on explosive chemistry
✨ A fierce, badass heroine who refuses to stay silent
✨ A golden boy hockey MMC under pressure (and falling hard)
✨ Women in sports fighting for recognition 👏
✨ Spice levels hot enough to fog the glass at the rink
Flynn Novak delivers a debut that’s sharp, sexy, and full of heart. If you’ve been craving a hockey romance where the rivalry is just as good as the romance, this one’s a must for your TBR.
#PuckYou #FlynnNovak #HockeyRomance #SportsRomance #RivalsToLovers #NewAdultRomance #NetGalley #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #EnemiesToLovers #HPR #HambrightPR
Puck You by Flynn Novak
If you love spicy hockey rivals-to-lovers romances in the vein of Icebreaker and The Au Pair Affair, this debut is about to slide right into your favorites list.
Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, ready to crush it on the women’s hockey team only to find out they’re treated like second-class athletes compared to the men. Enter Sebastian Evans, campus hockey golden boy, with one last shot to impress scouts and secure his pro career. Their rivalry ignites fast, fueled by Grace’s refusal to stay quiet and Sebastian’s desperate need to keep control. But the line between hate and heat? Yeah, it melts quicker than ice in overtime.
What you’ll get in Puck You:
✨ Rivals-to-lovers fire that turns into full-on explosive chemistry
✨ A fierce, badass heroine who refuses to stay silent
✨ A golden boy hockey MMC under pressure (and falling hard)
✨ Women in sports fighting for recognition 👏
✨ Spice levels hot enough to fog the glass at the rink
Flynn Novak delivers a debut that’s sharp, sexy, and full of heart. If you’ve been craving a hockey romance where the rivalry is just as good as the romance, this one’s a must for your TBR.
#PuckYou #FlynnNovak #HockeyRomance #SportsRomance #RivalsToLovers #NewAdultRomance #NetGalley #BookTokMadeMeReadIt #EnemiesToLovers #HPR #HambrightPR
October 5, 2025
Releasing Nov 18-
Flynn Novak’s debut Puck You delivers a college hockey romance packed with banter, chaos, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers tension. Grace and Sebastian bring the heat on and off the ice, making this a fun, fast-paced read.
Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University expecting elite hockey and equal treatment but the women’s team is side lined, while the men’s team, led by Sebastian Evans, enjoys top-tier perks. Sebastian’s under intense pressure to impress scouts, and Grace’s refusal to stay quiet about inequality makes her a disruptive force. As ambition, injustice, and undeniable chemistry fuel their rivalry, clashes threaten to derail both of their seasons as their rivalry simmers into something more complicated.
While the sports backdrop and witty banter kept the plot entertaining, the emotional arc of Grace and Sebastien’s romance felt uneven. Their chemistry is undeniable but the deeper emotional beats often got lost in the shuffle. Vulnerability flickers through in brief moments, only to be overshadowed by sarcasm or tension. I found myself caught between rooting for them and craving more depth beneath the sparks.
Regardless of my own take, Puck You is a strong choice for fans of steamy hockey romance and campus chaos.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flynn Novak for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Flynn Novak’s debut Puck You delivers a college hockey romance packed with banter, chaos, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers tension. Grace and Sebastian bring the heat on and off the ice, making this a fun, fast-paced read.
Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University expecting elite hockey and equal treatment but the women’s team is side lined, while the men’s team, led by Sebastian Evans, enjoys top-tier perks. Sebastian’s under intense pressure to impress scouts, and Grace’s refusal to stay quiet about inequality makes her a disruptive force. As ambition, injustice, and undeniable chemistry fuel their rivalry, clashes threaten to derail both of their seasons as their rivalry simmers into something more complicated.
While the sports backdrop and witty banter kept the plot entertaining, the emotional arc of Grace and Sebastien’s romance felt uneven. Their chemistry is undeniable but the deeper emotional beats often got lost in the shuffle. Vulnerability flickers through in brief moments, only to be overshadowed by sarcasm or tension. I found myself caught between rooting for them and craving more depth beneath the sparks.
Regardless of my own take, Puck You is a strong choice for fans of steamy hockey romance and campus chaos.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flynn Novak for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2025
I needed women hockey players in hockey romance because I like it when tough girls get to be emotional, and that's definitely Grace.
This starts as a rivalry/enemies story - the women's team is practicing in questionable conditions while having more championships than the men's team, and are denied access to the men's brand new, state of the art facility. Men's captain Sebastian is back after a year out with a horrible injury, and he's shockingly self-centered about his return to the ice and competition. Grace takes it upon herself to call out the inequity and make the athletics department and university listen, and knocking Sebastian down a peg becomes a side quest as she does it. What drives Sebastian crazy is that he's also super attracted to Grace.
Sebastian is truly horrible in most of the first half of this book, even if you understand why he is that way. He's so up his own butt he can't see how he's hurting people close to him, let alone being a crap human for allowing the women's team to be treated terribly when he could advocate for them so easily. The least believable part of this book is that his teammates let this happen, especially when one of them also has a sister who is a hockey player. Most college athletes do not go pro, even at D1 schools, and are usually better at standing up for their sport siblings. But I digress, despite being hot and a hot mess, I really wasn't sure Sebastian was going to be able to redeem himself...but he came around.
Sebastian and everyone around Grace take the time to notice how closed off she is, and both her friendships and relationship are about helping her realize that trust is worth it. Even when it does come back to hurt every once and a while, giving people space to fix things and be better for you matters too.
This was a fun, messy romance that had me laughing out loud quite a few times, and a truly impressive comeback for male lead Sebastian.
This starts as a rivalry/enemies story - the women's team is practicing in questionable conditions while having more championships than the men's team, and are denied access to the men's brand new, state of the art facility. Men's captain Sebastian is back after a year out with a horrible injury, and he's shockingly self-centered about his return to the ice and competition. Grace takes it upon herself to call out the inequity and make the athletics department and university listen, and knocking Sebastian down a peg becomes a side quest as she does it. What drives Sebastian crazy is that he's also super attracted to Grace.
Sebastian is truly horrible in most of the first half of this book, even if you understand why he is that way. He's so up his own butt he can't see how he's hurting people close to him, let alone being a crap human for allowing the women's team to be treated terribly when he could advocate for them so easily. The least believable part of this book is that his teammates let this happen, especially when one of them also has a sister who is a hockey player. Most college athletes do not go pro, even at D1 schools, and are usually better at standing up for their sport siblings. But I digress, despite being hot and a hot mess, I really wasn't sure Sebastian was going to be able to redeem himself...but he came around.
Sebastian and everyone around Grace take the time to notice how closed off she is, and both her friendships and relationship are about helping her realize that trust is worth it. Even when it does come back to hurt every once and a while, giving people space to fix things and be better for you matters too.
This was a fun, messy romance that had me laughing out loud quite a few times, and a truly impressive comeback for male lead Sebastian.
October 16, 2025
Thank you, Flynn Novak and Netgalley for providing this ARC of Puck You in exchange for a review.
So... I’m a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope (we can unpack that psychological quirk another day), and this one delivered the tension and fire I was hoping for.
Grace fighting for equality for the women’s ice hockey team? Absolutely loved it. The campaign with her teammates was chef’s kiss perfection, and I was fully on board from that point on. Sebastian, however, took his sweet time earning my patience. For a while, I couldn’t quite figure out why he had to be such a dick about it all.
It did take me a hot minute to warm up to either of them, partly because even their friends didn’t seem to know the most basic details about their lives... which made me a bit sad, honestly. Still, by the end, the character growth really pulled things together. Watching them both soften before everything went up in smoke at the game was satisfying, and the letter ending? Beautifully done.
That said, I am now formally requesting a bonus epilogue where we actually see both letters - Sebastian’s and Grace’s mum’s, and get to experience Grace reading them with Sebastian by her side. Because I need that emotional gut-punch closure, thank you very much.
So... I’m a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope (we can unpack that psychological quirk another day), and this one delivered the tension and fire I was hoping for.
Grace fighting for equality for the women’s ice hockey team? Absolutely loved it. The campaign with her teammates was chef’s kiss perfection, and I was fully on board from that point on. Sebastian, however, took his sweet time earning my patience. For a while, I couldn’t quite figure out why he had to be such a dick about it all.
It did take me a hot minute to warm up to either of them, partly because even their friends didn’t seem to know the most basic details about their lives... which made me a bit sad, honestly. Still, by the end, the character growth really pulled things together. Watching them both soften before everything went up in smoke at the game was satisfying, and the letter ending? Beautifully done.
That said, I am now formally requesting a bonus epilogue where we actually see both letters - Sebastian’s and Grace’s mum’s, and get to experience Grace reading them with Sebastian by her side. Because I need that emotional gut-punch closure, thank you very much.
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