I received an ARC and this is my review.
This one surprised me in the best way, it’s tender, messy, a little spicy, and full of that “oh no, I actually caught feelings” energy.
Olive is everything I want in a heroine—curvy, confident, vulnerable, and quick with a comeback. Alex? The broody hockey star who’s emotionally constipated until the right woman cracks him open. And oh, does Olive crack him wide open.
Their banter is A+, the tension is simmering, and the emotional stakes are real. There’s family drama, found family, secret hookups turned something more, and the kind of vulnerability that sneaks up on you. I wouldn’t call it a classic second-chance romance, but it gives those same emotional beats—hurt, healing, choosing each other over and over again.
And, you know I'm here for a plus-size heroine get to be desired, loved, and the center of someone’s world without it being a whole “thing". Yes, please.
If you love a confident curvy heroine, a secretly soft hockey boy, and a love story that feels earned and intimate, this one’s for you.
Tropes:
Hate-to-love (he’s her brother’s rival)
Secret–turned–real hookup
Sports hero
Plus‑size, confident heroine
Opposites attract / found family
Professional athlete romance