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Appies #6

When Alec Met Evie: A Sweet Hockey RomCom

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Evie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off.

When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.

Number Alec is her best friend’s much older brother.
Number She’s recently divorced and does not need another man in her life. At least not anytime soon.
Number With a four-month-old daughter, she has zero time for dating.

Trouble is, Evie doesn’t know another soul in North Carolina, so when her rental floods before she’s even moved in, her only option is to crash with Alec for a few weeks. When she protests, he insists it’s what he’d do for his sister, and that’s basically what she is to him.

But all these years later, the unexpected chemistry between them definitely says otherwise.

A new relationship is risky when Evie is still licking her wounds from her divorce, and she has no idea if Alec has any desire to be a dad. His sister already warned he isn’t the type to settle down.

But she can’t make herself care about any of that. Not until she’s already fallen, and it might be too late to save herself from another heartbreak.

When Alec Met Evie is a closed-door, best friend's brother hockey romcom with heart and humor, sizzle but no spice. Perfect for fans of sports romance who want a little less heat.

Books in the Appies Hockey Romance series are connected and chronological but still stand alone and can be read in any order.

354 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2025

1796 people are currently reading
4849 people want to read

About the author

Jenny Proctor

39 books2,237 followers
Jenny Proctor is an award-winning author of more than fourteen romantic comedies and an Amazon bestseller. She began her career in publishing in 2013; her writing has been a constant since then, but she's also spent time as the owner and managing editor of Midnight Owl Editors and the chair of the Storymakers Conference. Wired for relationships, Jenny loves public speaking, teaching, and building lasting connections.

Jenny was born in the mountains of Western North Carolina, a place she considers one of the loveliest on earth. She loves to hike with her family and spend time outdoors, but she also adores lounging around her home, reading great books or watching great movies and, when she’s lucky, eating delicious food she doesn’t have to prepare herself.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 826 reviews
Profile Image for Maren’s Reads.
1,214 reviews2,273 followers
March 3, 2025
New mom Evie Thomas moves to small town NC in pursuit of her dreams of being a luthier while raising her daughter Evie. It just so happens that her best friend’s older brother, hockey star Alec Sheridan lives near by. When her apartment floods right before she is set to move in, Alec opens up his home to her and Juno, with a warning from his sister that the newly divorced Evie is off limits.

I could not have envisioned a better final installment to the Appies series than Alec and Evie’s story. It was so fitting that the final chapter tells the story of our captain, Alec, forced to come to terms with the end of his career drawing near, and Evie, the woman who offers him his future. I went into this one blind, but the second I realized this was an age gap romance, I literally screamed. And oh boy is it a good one!

I literally loved every single thing about this book. Every character, every group text, every moment on and off the ice was pure perfection. Alec was a dream book boyfriend who you cannot help but love, especially as we see him grow close to baby Juno. Evie, although much younger than Alec, was his equal in every way. And their insane chemistry was off the charts.

Jenny Proctor does closed door romance like NO ONE else. She is so good at teasing out the chemistry, walking her MCs just to the line but never more. I kept forgetting this book was closed door when so many of the scenes between Alec and Evie were so hot (this is some sort of magic I think).

And yet, even with the most swoon worthy romance at the center of the story, I felt all of the emotion that runs deep beneath the surface. By the time we come to the conclusion, as Alec sits in the stadium, tears fell for both him and for the goodbye that was coming. I so desperately wanted his career to continue as desperately as I wanted this story and series to as well.

While 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first JP book I read, THIS BOOK will most likely always be my favorite. She blew it out of the park with this one and if we have to say goodbye to the Appies, what a way to go!

Read if you like:
▪️single mom
▪️age gap (9 years)
▪️forbidden(is) romance
▪️best friend’s brother
▪️forced proximity
▪️housemates
▪️hockey romance

Thank you Jenny Proctor for the gifted copy.
Profile Image for Gigi.
305 reviews56 followers
January 30, 2025
Perfect ending for the series!! 🥺
Profile Image for Cait | GoodeyReads.
2,817 reviews666 followers
January 24, 2025
Thank you to the author for an eARC

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

The end of an era. AN ERA. Oh how I adored this sweet and tender romance y’all. It’s not high angst or tension, it’s this incredible slow build of two people who knew each other when they were younger reconnecting in a different area of life and falling head over heels in love. It is romantic and subtle and tender. It’s ALL THE THINGS.

I loved Alec’s journey with hockey too. As a former athlete, I felt like this hit a lot of those emotional points and the questions and concerns and what do I do now’s. It was impactful to see his trajectory and let me tell y’all, there’s one scene in this book that will have you crying. I am still a wreck just thinking about it.

And I adored Evie. She’s bright and optimistic without being unrealistic. I loved the raw looks into motherhood (especially during that first year of life) and learning who was actually standing in her corner. Side note: I also loved her ex-MIL??? Like for real??? That was an amazing, it was only a small moment that stood out so much for me. The baby content will melt your heart and this entire book will bring you joy.

I love the Appies.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: make-outs
- Violence: low
- Content Warnings: absent father, mentions of divorce
Profile Image for BernLuvsBooks .
1,123 reviews5,157 followers
December 28, 2025
When Alec met Evie is the sixth and final book of the Appies series. I have loved this series and I’m sad it has come to its end but this was a worthy conclusion. It’s a best friend’s brother, single mom, closed door, hockey romance with so many sweet moments and undeniable chemistry.

Evie moves to Harvest Hollow for an apprenticeship with a luthier after a failed marriage. Alone in a new city with a four month old she finds herself at the mercy of Alec, her best friend Megan’s brother, when her rental is flooded and uninhabitable.

I adored Alec and Evie and baby Juno together. Evie was focused on starting her life over and providing Juno with the love and stability she needed. There were so many heart melting moments with Juno that made my heart swoon. Alec took on the role of caregiver for both Evie and Juno and it helped him see that there was more to life than hockey.

I loved seeing the Appies players and their girlfriends and I absolutely adored the side story with Alec and the rookies. There was a lot of emotion in this book with Alec grappling with his hockey career and Evie dealing with her ex not being in Juno’s life. These two fit together so well and complimented each other’s lives.

Do I wish this wasn’t the end of the Appies? Of course! Was this a fitting and satisfying end to the end? Absolutely.
Profile Image for Anisa Brown.
74 reviews7 followers
June 16, 2025
Super sweet rom-com, no language, no spice.

Tropes: Best friend's brother, age gap, single mom

This story follows Alec who is the captain of the Appies team and also the oldest player on the team. Now faced with retirement, he wonders what he has to live for outside of hockey. In walks Evie recently divorced with a infant, she's left alone in a new town to start over with no one to lean on but her childhood crush. Could Alec finally have something besides hockey and could Evie finally find the love she's always wanted for her and her daughter.

Side note: I love how the author so realistically captured motherhood in regards to breast feeding, sleepless nights, and all the things that come with it I literally stared reminiscing about my own experiences as a mom.

Side side note: This book in the series made me super emotional towards the end. I got to know these characters throughout the series and you build an attachment to them and the MMC in particular has been an important character since the first book. The ending was bittersweet 😭 I hope to get more of him in the next book even if it's just one scenario.
Profile Image for Jazz .☘︎ ݁˖.
169 reviews18 followers
February 11, 2025
Such a heartwarming and touching cozy romcom!

Evie, a newly single mom moves to the small town of Harvest Hollow—where her best friend’s brother also happens to live—after being presented with a job prospect. She’s hoping for a fresh start, but what Evie doesn’t anticipate is arriving in town to a flooded house. Enter Alec, our charming cinnamon roll of a hockey player. He swoops in and saves the day, offering her a place to stay. But they can’t keep feelings under wraps for long because sparks are FLYING. But… is Evie ready to start a new relationship so soon after her divorce and a newborn to care for? And is Alec ready to take on the responsibility of being a father figure?

I absolutely LOVED this book. Alec has been a favorite character of mine since the Sweater Weather series, and seeing him fall in love was so exciting! This was more of an insta-love than I was expecting, but honestly, I’m not even mad about it because it was done so well.

I’m not usually a fan of single parent romances, but after reading this, it might just be one of my new favorite tropes! Alec’s bond with Juno, Evie’s daughter, melted me. Watching him grow attached to her—as well as Evie—was adorable, and every moment he spent with her had me swooning and smiling so big.

And don’t even get me started on Alec and Evie together! These two are most definitely a new favorite book couple of mine. Their relationship was so genuine and real. This book is a prime example of why I adore closed-door romances; there’s no unnecessary sexualization, just a pure, tender romance with plenty of sizzling tension.

This story isn’t only about Alec and Evie, though. Every character, from Juno to the twins to the hockey team to Ruth, added so much heart, and it would not be nearly the same without them.

I’m a real sucker for the found family trope, and ugh, this particular one does me in every time! The Appies hockey team players are the most welcoming and always bring so much humor to each story they’re a part of. And Evie’s neighbor, Ruth, we can’t forget to mention that lovely lady! Ruth is an elderly woman with the biggest heart, and her presence made this all so much cozier! The way she continuously showed up for Evie and her daughter was so touching and nearly had me crying because of how much it touched my heart. The depth of supporting characters really means so much more to me than anything else!

🀨 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀/𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Single mom
Small town
Age gap (he’s 9 years older)
She fell first, he fell harder
Roommates
Forced proximity
Found family
Closed door (steamy kissing but NO explicit scenes)

4.5 ★

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
Profile Image for Julie Carpenter.
1,914 reviews239 followers
January 28, 2025
I am honestly so sad that this series is over! It has been an incredible ride with these main male, hockey-playing characters! I love their dedication to each other, their team, their families, their fans! If there was ever a series to show the goodness of sports players, this is definitely it! They are gentleman through and through and treat their leading ladies with incredible love and respect. The humor these hockey players bring to each book had me laughing out loud. And this one is no exception. I loved that so many of the team and their loved ones were featured in this book. It was perfection for the readers and fans of this series!

Alec and Evie's story is so heartwarming. Don't get me wrong, there is still heartache and sorrow, and struggles, and all the stuff. But you're going to be a melted puddle while reading it. This sweet second-chance story will have you grinning from ear-to-ear and sighing. I promise. I was and I'm more than 100 percent sure that I am not the only one!

My heart ached for Evie and I just wanted to dive in and fix everything for her. It's not easy being a young mom to a newborn and doing that all by yourself. Add in moving across country by yourself, no family able to help, a disaster awaiting you at your rental and feeling utterly and completely helpless. But Alec and his teammates show up and save the day. And can I just say that Alec with that sweet little baby throughout the book...I know many readers are going to be swooning!!! Just sayin'!!!

Here are some of my favorite things from the book (only some because there is a lot to love about this one)!!!

Best Friend's Brother
Damsel in Distress
Appies
Juno
The Twins
Halloween
Apples *snickering-I couldn't help myself*
The Banter
Movies
He Falls
Age Gap
Cooking For Her *Kind of*
The Games
Family
The Appies Family
The Kisses



Content: PG-13ish. There are some mild innuendos throughout the book. Talk of divorce, single parent w/a baby, nursing. Some kisses. Some talk of alcohol use by secondary characters. Talk of trauma and death of parent by secondary characters. Some talk of physical injury due to the nature of hockey on the body, but not graphic. With all of that, it was written in a very sensitive matter and I would consider it to be a clean read. I would let my older teens read it.

I received a copy from the author through Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for Katie Betts.
321 reviews174 followers
January 31, 2025
Evie never planned to fall for her childhood crush—especially not now, as a single mom starting over. But when a housing mishap lands her in pro-hockey star Alec’s guest room, their undeniable chemistry makes ignoring her feelings impossible. She knows he’s not the settling-down type, but watching him with her daughter makes her wish he were.

Why this book was so fun:
• Hockey boys in firefighter costumes 😍
• Shirtless Alec holding baby Juno
• Her classical music background
• The crazy Texas twins
• Alec’s massive house
• Kissing in a hallway at the Summit

Why I love the Appies:
• Large, kind-hearted hockey players
• The Dream Team text thread
• Small-town charm
• Strong male friendships
• The best forced proximity for each couple

Why I read: I’m obsessed with hockey romances, and I can never get enough of the Appies. I will forever and always drop everything to read them the moment I get my hands on them (except now I’m grieving because I’ve heard this is the last one 😭😭)

Thank you to the author for the eARC 💜

Perfect for you if you like:
Single mom + man learning he might actually want to be a dad
Men going to therapy and talking to each other
Heated kisses

Similar to:
Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner
The Temporary Roomie by Sarah Adams
The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson (open door)

⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️narcissistic ex-husband, absent father, underaged drinking referenced, death of a parent mentioned
Profile Image for Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading).
829 reviews121 followers
January 23, 2025
GENRE
sports romance

CONTENT
-🤬: one instance of mild language (a**)
-❤️: makeouts with tongue mentioned
-⚠️: narcissistic ex, parental abandonment, mentions of a sibling with cancer (past)

Y'all, I love the Appies so much. They are EASILY my favorite fictional team. And let me tell you: this book only added to my admiration for them!

This story is just tender. That's the word that keeps coming to mind.

When his little sister's best friend Evie moves to Harvest Hollow with her 4-month-old, Alec is coerced into helping her get settled. Due to a flooded rental, Evie ends up moving into Alec's guest room. As they spend time together, Alec realizes that despite their nine year age gap, he really likes Evie and, to his surprise, though he'd never been around a baby before, he also really enjoys Juno.

I loved how we got to see Alec in mentoring his 18-year-old teammate Theo and in the end, I loved how Theo was the one who pointed out to Alec that he had other things to live for besides hockey. And the camaraderie and brotherhood found in chapter 29??? Talk about heartwarming. It had me tearing up.

Alec and Evie's love was beautiful. I especially loved the juxtaposition between Evie's ex-husband and Alec. I hate that Evie had to endure her first relationship but it enabled her to see how Alec *truly* cared for her and made her a priority.

PLEASE PICK THIS ONE (AND EVERY OTHER APPIES BOOK) UP!

Favorite Quotes:
😍 Oh my gosh.
Me.
And Alec Sheridan.
Megan's freaking older brother Alec Sheridan.
Are on. the same. page.
And not just any page. A page torn out of an actual romance novel.

👏🏻 "So you're saying real men aren't afraid of boybands or therapy."

🥹"Take a leap. There are a lot of people here willing to catch you."

‼️ Few things are quite so sexy as a good man trying to be a good father.

❤️ Even though loving each other is mostly amazing, I'm not going to lie and say it isn't punctuated with short bursts of intensity, of arguments and sadness, even disappointment. But those moments just serve as reminders to focus, to connect, to look at each other and remember that what we have with each other is worth it.
And it is worth it.
Profile Image for Yasemin˚。⋆୨୧˚.
160 reviews31 followers
April 22, 2025
They immediately jumped into family mood, instead of dating, but thats how books with kids are 🤷‍♀️

It was still an enjoyable book with a lot if cute moments!
Profile Image for Bree.
450 reviews26 followers
January 21, 2025
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬: Book 6}

🏒 Release Date: January 23, 2025 🏒
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This book was fantastic and had so many of my favorite tropes, including a delightful age gap with a little sister’s best friend. The added element of the single mom trope was the cherry on top of this amazing story! I have enjoyed all of the Appies books so far and this one was no exception. I dearly hope this isn’t the end of the Appies stories!

Alec and Evie (& Juno) were the BEST!! I love that he was a goner from the start, like the poor guy didn’t even have a chance to not fall head over heels for his little sister’s best friend 😏 And the way he was so good with Juno 🫠 Be still my beating heart! Alec brought the light back into Evie’s eyes and prioritized her the way she deserved. The way his protective nature reared its head around “his girls” was so precious!

“𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛.”

The eighteen-year-old twins were so great! Theo, with his boisterous persona, wasn’t great at staying out of trouble and often created issues. Carter, on the other hand, was the peacekeeper, always watching out for his brother. Alec, with his unending patience and experience in life and hockey, was the perfect mentor for these two. I love how much we got to see the twins in this book and I’m hoping to see more of them in the future 🤞🏻

The ending was so emotional 😢 I love how the Appies all band together when a teammate is in need; they are their own found family and that blessing is absolutely priceless! I will definitely miss these guys 😔

Top Moments:
🏒 The nine year age gap
🏒 Soothing Juno w/ Alec’s voice
🏒 Dancing in the kitchen & cinnamon rolls
🏒 Theo meeting Evie
🏒 Buying Appie merch for Evie & Juno
🏒 “Apples”
🏒 Alec, the baby whisperer
🏒 Bringing Evie lunch
🏒 Firefighters and a tiny Dalmatian
🏒 Watching Alec play hockey
🏒 Appies being a brotherhood
🏒 The porch swing
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Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys and @jennyproctorbooks for the gifted arc of this book!
Profile Image for Laura Miller.
Author 3 books46 followers
February 26, 2025
Amazing! This story melted my heart and brought tears to my eyes.

Alec has been feeling out of it lately as he watches all of his teammates couple off and he is left hanging out with the rookies of the Appies hockey team. When his sister Megan asks him for a favor, to help her friend Evie and baby Juno move into her new home in Harvest Hollow, he knows he can’t say no as she knows no one else in town. But when he sees her he is not expecting the attraction he feels toward her and definitely doesn’t know about the crush Evie had on him growing up.

There was just so much to love about this book and I really won't be able to do it justice in this review. I was pulled into the story from the first sentence and didn’t want to let go. I literally woke up the morning after I finished this one thinking about Alec and Evie. Those two now have a special place in my heart. You could feel the attraction between Alec and Evie there from the start and they had such a great connection. Their conversations were so easy and natural. I couldn’t stop smiling the first time Alec called Evie “nerd”. You will have to read the book if you want to know what the nickname means. :) The entire story was done so well. There was lots of chemistry and tension along with real thoughts and conversations on what having a relationship with someone with a baby could mean. I loved all the realistic mom stuff and Juno’s milestones. Jenny Proctor took me back to my feelings I had as a new mom with Evie and Juno. Alec was so adorable with Juno not to mention how he sees Evie and is so kind and attentive to her needs. It's easy to see why Evie was so smitten. There were lots of touching conversations between Alec and Evie, and Alec and his Appie teammates that gave me all the feels. The ending was absolutely perfect. Alec and Evie loved each other through all the ups and downs of it all and I couldn’t get enough of them.

Read if you enjoy:
Best Friends Brother
Age gap (9 years)
Hockey Romance
Single Mom
Small Town
Found Family
Forced Proximity

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,531 reviews333 followers
February 14, 2025
“Me. And Alec Sheridan. Megan’s freaking older brother Alec Sheridan. Are on. the same. page. And not just any page. A page torn out of an actual romance novel.”

I fell hard for the Appies hockey team and this one just might be my favorite of the series (spoiler alert: I say that about all of them). Team captain Alec’s story is the sweetest, swooniest, most stimulating story ever. The instantaneous connection and attraction between Evie and her best friend’s much older hottie of a brother melted my heart, but watching Alec melt over baby Juno exploded that puddle of goo into a flame that couldn’t be doused.

The best friend’s older brother trope is a favorite of mine, especially when forced proximity is added to a newfound attraction and a crush that’s lingered for years. Exploring new and old feelings, while navigating new expectations and situations brought so much satisfaction to my soul. Watching the hockey team banter and dote on a baby fueled my infatuation with this lovable group and the way every single thing played out was more wonderful than anything I could have hoped for.

Jenny Proctor is a favorite author of mine–her writing style speaks to me and never fails to evoke plentiful emotions. I’m NOT a crier in books and tears were brought to my eyes several times. I wish I could express everything this story made me feel, but all I can really say is this book is exceptionally special on so many levels.

Content: mild romance; mild language

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
Profile Image for Teagan Brown.
138 reviews4 followers
June 8, 2025
This book was absolutely brilliant! I have loved the entire series, but this one I could not put down! I thought Nathan was my favourite Appie, but then we got to know Alec, and he is absolutely something else! I am sad this series is coming to an end, and this is Jenny's last contribution, but wow, what an amazing way to end it! If you haven't read these books, you absolutely should.
73 reviews2 followers
January 29, 2026
7 stars; all the stars; I love this book!!! I read it so fast I loved all the raw mom content and I loved the text threads. I loved the characters, I loved the team. I loved it.

What a great ending to such a fun series of hockey players I’m so sad to see it end. I loved all the books in this series but this might be my favorite it was so good!!
Profile Image for liz ౨ৎ.
159 reviews
January 24, 2025
Evie and her infant daughter, Juno, move to Harvest Hollow. They don’t know anyone aside from her best friends brother, Alec, who agrees to help them move in. Only her rental is flooded and she needs a place to stay during repairs. Evie and Juno end up staying with Alec in the meantime.

Can I just say that Alec is GONE for this woman and her baby. Like absolutely smitten. And, man, am I a sucker for the single mom trope!

My favorite part of the book was the fact that all the characters in this book showed real maturity. I loved the side characters and look forward to reading the previous books in the series.
Profile Image for Suzan.
1,171 reviews
February 28, 2025
I’ve absolutely loved this series and am so sad it’s over, but what a phenomenal conclusion to the Appies series! This story is heartwarming, tender, fun, and so incredibly sweet.

The romance was super swoony and lovely. The way Alec treated Evie, and was a “baby whisperer” to Juno, completely melted my heart. I loved the emotional maturity and mutual support Evie and Alec had for each other.

As in the other books, the relationship and camaraderie between the “dream team” was a highlight of the story. Their banter, loyalty, and friendship was the best.

From the sweetest of beginnings to an ending that had me in tears, I loved every second of this wonderful story! All the stars and hearts for this fabulous book and series!

I received a complimentary copy, but a positive review was not required.
Profile Image for Morgan Giesbrecht.
Author 2 books190 followers
February 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐️

Series finales take me out every time. 🥹

I would say this was my favourite Appies book… but I think I’ve already said that 2 or 3 times. 😂 In all seriousness though, this one does hold a dear place in my heart. Partly due to being a finale book (the emotions always hit hardest), but also because of the journey of Alec and Evie’s characters. Jenny framed motherhood as a beautiful thing in all its messy and rewarding glory. It was a lovely thing to see, and Evie truly was such a great mom. And how Alec stepped up where her ex failed? So heartwarming. Alec’s struggle with closing a chapter on his dreams was so tangible it ached a bit. Digging deep to determine your priorities is a good thing though, and he did just that.

And of course, there’s Jenny’s signature humour, and the Dream Team text thread never gets old! It was a blast to laugh with old friends and watch them forge ahead on their journeys, but I’ll miss them, too.

Lastly, a round of applause for Karen—the nontoxic, supportive mother in law—you were a gem!


Content: a handful of make out scenes (one with tongue briefly mentioned); comment about sex and a married couple trying for a baby; breastfeeding is casually talked about; mild language (p*ssed); mild innuendo
Profile Image for Lauren.
164 reviews8 followers
June 23, 2025
2.75⭐️

This book hooked me in the beginning. Started out super strong with introductions of the characters and setting up the chance for them to be together, but it fizzled in the middle.
Suddenly all of Evies problems just kind of took the backseat and everything was hunky dory…. Ya I don’t buy it. Because the book was so short, it just skimmed the surface of what it could have been. I like Alec. I like him with Juno, but it was all to surface level.
Profile Image for McKenna Johnson.
812 reviews30 followers
February 12, 2025
ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @jennyproctorbooks and @bookedwiththeemilys for the #gifted e-book.

The final book in The Appies series—what a bittersweet moment! While I’m sad to see the series end, When Alec Met Evie was easily my favorite of the bunch by Jenny. Proctor truly delivered with this one!

This book had so many elements I love:
✔ Pro hockey captain
✔ Age gap
✔ Best friend’s brother
✔ Single mom (with the most adorable teeny tiny baby!)
✔ Hockey romance!!!

Proctor did an amazing job weaving these tropes together into a story that felt fresh, engaging, and heartfelt. I was completely engrossed from start to finish, with no slow or dragging moments—just a perfectly paced, well-written romance that kept me hooked.

Alec and Evie’s chemistry was fantastic, and I loved how their relationship developed. The single mom aspect added so much depth, especially with a baby as precious as the one in this story. The mix of swoon-worthy moments, emotional depth, and humor made this a standout read for me.

If you love hockey romances with heart, this book (and series!) is a must-read. A fantastic conclusion to The Appies!
Profile Image for Mara.
1,479 reviews113 followers
February 12, 2025
What a way to end a series! I'm sad to see this series end but I loved Alec and Evie's story!

Evie is a newly divorced single mom, determined not to fall for her childhood crush, Alec, who is her best friend's older brother. Life has other plans—starting with her rental flooding and forcing her to live under his roof temporarily. I thought Evie was so relatable as she learned to balance motherhood and heal from her divorce while trying to resist the pull toward Alec. And Alec? He’s the perfect mix of protective, charming, and sweet—especially when he's holding Evie’s baby girl, Juno. (so swoony)

Evie and Alec's connection is electric, and watching them navigate their growing feelings, despite the reasons they shouldn’t be together, kept me hooked from start to finish. There are so many swoony moments that will leave you with happy sighs.

Besides all the swoony scenes with Evie and Juno, I liked seeing Alec working with the Appies and guiding the young players on the team. I loved how the team and their significant others showed up to help Evie; the team is a big family. If you're a crier, you're going to want to have some tissues for the last few chapters. They aren't sad but they will make you cry.

I received a complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Micah (micahs.bookshelf).
251 reviews39 followers
February 1, 2025
The Appies have my heart!! I have been anxious for Alec, the hockey team’s captain, from the beginning of the series and it delivered in all the ways! I loved every single moment of this book.

Alec is top notch book boyfriend material. He is kind, respectful, and responsible while also being movie-star handsome and a talented athlete.

I loved Jenny’s new take on the best friend’s brother trope. Even the age gap was approached different than I’ve seen in other books and it felt so fresh. Everything about this story flowed and worked so well that I was hooked and completely immersed. It made me feel ALL the things!

Evie has a baby (from a previous marriage) and all of the mom/baby content was so relatable and accurate. I always knew where the baby, Juno, was and she was respectfully accounted for at all times. Seeing Alec take great care of Juno and Evie was the absolute sweetest!!

This book made me love the entire Appies team even more. I will really miss the Appies, but this book was the PERFECT ending to the series. I connected to the life of an athlete way more than I ever guessed I’d be able to as a very non-athletic person. Jenny Proctor’s writing has a way of sucking you in and helping you relate to the characters and their emotions so well! I definitely shed a good number of tears with this one.

🔥: Kissing
Profile Image for Kayla | baeslerbookworm.
129 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ - First book I read in the Appies series & I really enjoyed it.

Evie is recently divorced w/ a new baby girl. She gets her dream job & moves near her best friend’s older brother. She grew up going to all his hockey games, but they haven’t seen each other since she graduated high school.

I don’t want to give too much away, but divorce, baby, hockey romance is all you need to know.

I now want to go back and read the other books in the series!

Pub Date: Jan 23rd, 2025

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing, & Jenny Proctor for this #gifted DRC!
Profile Image for Alix | IG: ThisBookishMom.
572 reviews39 followers
January 29, 2025
Rating: 4.5/5

Currently in total denial that this is the last Appies book. 😭 I have loved every single book in this series and this one was no exception. 😍

Alec is the absolute sweetest and had so many great “dad” moments with Juno and the twin rookies. Evie has had a rough year and the reality of motherhood is portrayed perfectly—it’s so hard!

Loved the romance and totally teared up during a special moment between The Dream Team.

APPIES FOREVER! 🏒
Profile Image for Linda.
1,101 reviews49 followers
February 23, 2025
Loved Alec and Evie

...and Juno. What a beautiful story they had. Evie is the best friend of Alec's sister, Megan from childhood to present. Friends to something more is a fabulous basis for a relationship.

The characters are so real, I fall into Jenny's books as if I am experiencing the story along with them.
Profile Image for Jordan.
2 reviews
October 26, 2025
Jenny’s books are so cute, clean, and yes simple but so so happy. I haven’t always been a rom-com book lover, but I’m so happy authors like this exist so we can have happy cute short reads that are also perfect for stressful grad-school semesters. Also bless kindle unlimited, please sponsor me and pay for my doctorate? 😂
Profile Image for Ashleigh.
214 reviews24 followers
January 23, 2025
This is the cutest cozy hockey romance. I absolutely adore Alec & Evie. I mean…who doesn’t love a best friend’s brother trope?

I’ve read quite a few of the books in this series, and they always leave me feeling warm + fuzzy.

One of my favorite things about this story was the diversity of characters; conversations around bodies, our abilities, and mental health. Romance with depth is my go-to & I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this in advance of its release.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC
Profile Image for Molly.
190 reviews41 followers
February 18, 2025
I literally loved this book! It was sooo sweet and wholesome <3
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