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The Hockey Experiment: A Sports Romance Rom-Com
She’s an #1 International Bestselling Author around the world with millions sold, and now Ava Miles delivers another completely original feel good book to binge, with laugh-your-heart-out moments and a family-centric hero you want at your back and in your bed.
“The hot connection between the two, the steamy scenes, and the love of family all make this one of the best books of summer.” ~ Red Carpet Crash
Date a hockey player?? Why the heck would she want to do that?
But study him? Sign her up for that experiment!
Except when Dr. Valentina Hargrove meets the captain of the Alexandria Eagles, Brock “The Rock” Thomson, she isn’t sure her original hypothesis that hockey players are Stone Age throwbacks stands up.
Stock options and impressive IQs weren’t on her checklist. Brock may have the requisite scary scar, but it’s on a sexy, after-shave scented, rock-hard jaw—and he chews his food with his mouth closed.
Only she can’t date him—her proposal guidelines are strict. She is to study hockey players to determine whether they are modern cavemen. Hockey stick/club—same, same. Even their dental issues make the similarities seem academic.
Except Brock’s manly come, now, mine routine seems to answer the one question plaguing women since the beginning of what is it about men that women find so irresistible? His desire to make her his isn't just about him making fire to impress her and finding them a nice fur-lined cave with a picket fence for their happily ever after.
He's more than a guy with a wooden stick, putting Val's whole study in jeopardy and the team's path to victory when they discover she's also the daughter of the Eagles' new owner...
“The hot connection between the two, the steamy scenes, and the love of family all make this one of the best books of summer.” ~ Red Carpet Crash
Date a hockey player?? Why the heck would she want to do that?
But study him? Sign her up for that experiment!
Except when Dr. Valentina Hargrove meets the captain of the Alexandria Eagles, Brock “The Rock” Thomson, she isn’t sure her original hypothesis that hockey players are Stone Age throwbacks stands up.
Stock options and impressive IQs weren’t on her checklist. Brock may have the requisite scary scar, but it’s on a sexy, after-shave scented, rock-hard jaw—and he chews his food with his mouth closed.
Only she can’t date him—her proposal guidelines are strict. She is to study hockey players to determine whether they are modern cavemen. Hockey stick/club—same, same. Even their dental issues make the similarities seem academic.
Except Brock’s manly come, now, mine routine seems to answer the one question plaguing women since the beginning of what is it about men that women find so irresistible? His desire to make her his isn't just about him making fire to impress her and finding them a nice fur-lined cave with a picket fence for their happily ever after.
He's more than a guy with a wooden stick, putting Val's whole study in jeopardy and the team's path to victory when they discover she's also the daughter of the Eagles' new owner...
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2025
91 people are currently reading
7831 people want to read
About the author
Ava Miles
101 books1,142 followersMillions of readers have discovered International Bestselling Author Ava Miles and her powerful fiction and non-fiction books about love, happiness, and transformation. Her novels have received praise and accolades from USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and People Magazine in addition to being chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor’s picks. Translated into multiple languages, Ava’s strongest praise comes directly from her readers, who call her books and characters unforgettable.
Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.
After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.
Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.
After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!
This book could be summed up as follows: two women with PhDs in cultural anthropology have spent their lives studying men and their habits. Recruited to study the differences and similarities between cavemen and hockey players, the stoic of the two falls in love with a genuine, nice guy who is our captain. (SO MANY DETAILS LEFT OUT)
I could not decide while reading this book if I liked it, or not especially since you read in the main characters POV, but set in their consciousness rather than anything that gives more of a descriptive take.
Val and Darla (FMC and best friend) are somewhat likable characters but Val has the most peculiar way of speaking and processing her own thoughts. She’s written to be a very blunt cultural professor who’s spent most of her time in the field with indigenous peoples. Their friendship is sweet but many times I was confused about their individual pasts and how they did become friends (someone has a famous mom and the other comes from famous non-parents?). Brock, the MMC, is the hockey golden boy, and he’s drawn to Val, although I have no idea why other than the forces that be. Also, could not for the life of me actually call him Brock… just… the name???
Honestly, I spent at least half of this book confused but just hoping it would all work out (it does). Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC! It’s either 2.5 or 3 stars…
This book could be summed up as follows: two women with PhDs in cultural anthropology have spent their lives studying men and their habits. Recruited to study the differences and similarities between cavemen and hockey players, the stoic of the two falls in love with a genuine, nice guy who is our captain. (SO MANY DETAILS LEFT OUT)
I could not decide while reading this book if I liked it, or not especially since you read in the main characters POV, but set in their consciousness rather than anything that gives more of a descriptive take.
Val and Darla (FMC and best friend) are somewhat likable characters but Val has the most peculiar way of speaking and processing her own thoughts. She’s written to be a very blunt cultural professor who’s spent most of her time in the field with indigenous peoples. Their friendship is sweet but many times I was confused about their individual pasts and how they did become friends (someone has a famous mom and the other comes from famous non-parents?). Brock, the MMC, is the hockey golden boy, and he’s drawn to Val, although I have no idea why other than the forces that be. Also, could not for the life of me actually call him Brock… just… the name???
Honestly, I spent at least half of this book confused but just hoping it would all work out (it does). Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC! It’s either 2.5 or 3 stars…
April 16, 2025
So, firstly, I’m really really not a fan of the writing style. It was incredibly hard to get into and you are are thrown in with almost no background
It reads like 3rd person but also somehow stream of consciousness 🤷🏻♀️ how, why, I don’t know.
Anywho, it’s starts off with seemingly two well educated (as they keep mentioning their credentials) spoiled rich girls who have decided men are the problem (to all the questions) and they have been studying men for years.
It definitely starts off in the man hater category; it reads as two insecure women who haven’t found dating happiness and have familial relationship trauma.
It’s heavy handed girl power, even though they are banked rolled by FMCs father.
But alas these women are VERY full of themselves and don’t seem to be cognizant that there are two genders to every heterosexual relationship and the fault cannot lay 100% with one gender…
The whole premise of the study doesn’t make sense to me.
They are hired by FMC’s father, who owns the team, to study the guys to help them win the Stanley Cup. Not sure how a study equating hockey players to cavemen would help… but hey, he’s rich and his daughter fancies herself the next big cultural anthropologist and he has money to throw at her ambitions. We love a supportive dad, even if he buys her accolades.
Enter the MMC the quintessential nice guy, sure he’s a famous hockey player but outside of that, he’s a caring friend and brother who finds a woman he’s captivated by. He’s trying to think of ways to help his team, taking care of his niece and nephew.
Their very skewed and hidden agenda relationship was hard for me to read or get into. I don’t think the book was bad but it really wasn’t my thing. I love a hockey romance but this one just didn’t grab me. As much as I liked the MMC and his family, I disliked Val and Darla.
It reads like 3rd person but also somehow stream of consciousness 🤷🏻♀️ how, why, I don’t know.
Anywho, it’s starts off with seemingly two well educated (as they keep mentioning their credentials) spoiled rich girls who have decided men are the problem (to all the questions) and they have been studying men for years.
It definitely starts off in the man hater category; it reads as two insecure women who haven’t found dating happiness and have familial relationship trauma.
It’s heavy handed girl power, even though they are banked rolled by FMCs father.
But alas these women are VERY full of themselves and don’t seem to be cognizant that there are two genders to every heterosexual relationship and the fault cannot lay 100% with one gender…
The whole premise of the study doesn’t make sense to me.
They are hired by FMC’s father, who owns the team, to study the guys to help them win the Stanley Cup. Not sure how a study equating hockey players to cavemen would help… but hey, he’s rich and his daughter fancies herself the next big cultural anthropologist and he has money to throw at her ambitions. We love a supportive dad, even if he buys her accolades.
Enter the MMC the quintessential nice guy, sure he’s a famous hockey player but outside of that, he’s a caring friend and brother who finds a woman he’s captivated by. He’s trying to think of ways to help his team, taking care of his niece and nephew.
Their very skewed and hidden agenda relationship was hard for me to read or get into. I don’t think the book was bad but it really wasn’t my thing. I love a hockey romance but this one just didn’t grab me. As much as I liked the MMC and his family, I disliked Val and Darla.
June 12, 2025
I read a lot of hockey romances and I have to say this book was really unique! I thought the premise was interesting - our FMC Val and her BFF Darla are anthropologists and Val’s father hires them to study his hockey team. Yes they certainly have opinions going into the study but they are fully committed to the scientific process.
Brock is a player on the team and he and Val and this instant attraction and chemistry - She refuses to give in and puts her focus on the study…but Brock isn’t going to just let her go!
Overall this story is funny and quirky. I loved Brock, he was charming and cocky and I loved how he accepted Val for who she was. Val was smart and sarcastic and tries so hard to stay objective. Darla was a gem and I also loved Brock’s family too!
✨ What To Expect:
💖 Romantic Comedy
🏒 Sports Romance - Hockey
🎀 Coach's Daughter
🕵️ Researcher/Anthropologist FMC
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🕶️ She is mysterious
🥅 Hockey Player MMC
💼 Workplace Romance
3️⃣ 3rd Person, Multiple POV
Brock is a player on the team and he and Val and this instant attraction and chemistry - She refuses to give in and puts her focus on the study…but Brock isn’t going to just let her go!
Overall this story is funny and quirky. I loved Brock, he was charming and cocky and I loved how he accepted Val for who she was. Val was smart and sarcastic and tries so hard to stay objective. Darla was a gem and I also loved Brock’s family too!
✨ What To Expect:
💖 Romantic Comedy
🏒 Sports Romance - Hockey
🎀 Coach's Daughter
🕵️ Researcher/Anthropologist FMC
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🕶️ She is mysterious
🥅 Hockey Player MMC
💼 Workplace Romance
3️⃣ 3rd Person, Multiple POV
June 9, 2025
4.5 ⭐️! Even though the first few chapters were a little slow, I'm really happy I persevered because this was my first time ever reading anything by Ms. Miles. The concept, characters, and supporting cast were all appealing to me. I adored Val and Brock together. This should be on your to-read list if you like romantic comedy and hockey sports romance.
June 9, 2025
I am a HUGE fan of hockey romances. I thought the premise of an anthropologist studying the caveman-like behaviors of hockey players was quite interesting compared to the plots of most hockey romance books so I was excited to read it. But, as much as I wanted to like this, "The Hockey Experiment" was not my jam.
Here's what I liked: I enjoyed Brock's character. Who doesn't love a cocky hockey player dedicated to his family? The descriptions were also vivid and I could see the scenes clearly unfolding in my mind. I also believe the forced proximity and workplace romance tropes were executed well.
And here's what I didn't vibe with: I had a hard time relating to Val, the FMC (and most of the characters in general). She gave me major "not like other girls" energy. I found her speech and internal monologue to be very clinical and cold. I guess that's how she's supposed to be, but I had a hard time liking her because I couldn't really understand her.
In the same vein, the writing style made it difficult for me to follow along and sometimes comprehend. I am fine with books written in third person, but I had issues figuring out who was doing or saying what because some scenes contained multiple POVs from multiple characters. Another thing other reviewers pointed out that I agreed with was the odd and perhaps inappropriate description of a character's skin color. I think that should have been worded differently.
Ultimately, the concept for "The Hockey Experiment" is so unique, but fell flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Ava Miles for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Here's what I liked: I enjoyed Brock's character. Who doesn't love a cocky hockey player dedicated to his family? The descriptions were also vivid and I could see the scenes clearly unfolding in my mind. I also believe the forced proximity and workplace romance tropes were executed well.
And here's what I didn't vibe with: I had a hard time relating to Val, the FMC (and most of the characters in general). She gave me major "not like other girls" energy. I found her speech and internal monologue to be very clinical and cold. I guess that's how she's supposed to be, but I had a hard time liking her because I couldn't really understand her.
In the same vein, the writing style made it difficult for me to follow along and sometimes comprehend. I am fine with books written in third person, but I had issues figuring out who was doing or saying what because some scenes contained multiple POVs from multiple characters. Another thing other reviewers pointed out that I agreed with was the odd and perhaps inappropriate description of a character's skin color. I think that should have been worded differently.
Ultimately, the concept for "The Hockey Experiment" is so unique, but fell flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Ava Miles for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2025
3.5 stars - Slow start, strong finish!
I struggled to get into this one and almost DNF'd in the first chapter, but I'm glad I had a friend to reach out to, who encouraged me to stick to my five-chapter rule. By chapter two, I fell hard for Brock with his POV. His love and dedication to his family pulled me in and kept me reading.
While the premise was intriguing, I found it tough to connect with Val, especially in how she thought and handled certain situations. That said, I really enjoyed her moments with her best friend and Brock's niece, who was struggling through a major life change.
In the end, I'm glad I stayed with the story. The resolution was satisfying, and the secondary characters added depth and support to the main arc.
I struggled to get into this one and almost DNF'd in the first chapter, but I'm glad I had a friend to reach out to, who encouraged me to stick to my five-chapter rule. By chapter two, I fell hard for Brock with his POV. His love and dedication to his family pulled me in and kept me reading.
While the premise was intriguing, I found it tough to connect with Val, especially in how she thought and handled certain situations. That said, I really enjoyed her moments with her best friend and Brock's niece, who was struggling through a major life change.
In the end, I'm glad I stayed with the story. The resolution was satisfying, and the secondary characters added depth and support to the main arc.
May 25, 2025
Val and Brock are a great couple in this quirky, awkward, sports romance. Val is so shy and awkward, and Brock is just an absolute dream of a nice guy.
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did? it was great. Another fantastic book by Ava Miles.
thank you to the author and hambright PR for an ARC
It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did? it was great. Another fantastic book by Ava Miles.
thank you to the author and hambright PR for an ARC
June 9, 2025
The Hockey Experiment by Ava Miles is a heart-wrenchigly astonishing and hilarious romantic comedy, it has a tremendously meticulous and ice-laced edge to it, the type of rom-com that flirts with catastrophe, but also rolls around in it, laughing! Valentina Hargrove's study effort begins with reckless charm, a clever academic seeking to comprehend the "caveman instincts" of modern hockey players, but what begins as pure satire, dental gaps and primal grunts, evolves into something euphoric and very shattering when Brock "The Rock" Thomson joins the picture! Yes, he is wounded but not just on the jawline, this MMC carries his emotions with a raw-edged control that is more powerful than any slapshot!
.
Valentina is witty, intelligent, and doomed from the moment Brock flows into her world with quiet love and a serving of stock options, she wants control, she wants to be the cold scientist with her clipboard and neutral expressions, but each of his softly stated confessions and hot glances causes her to fall apart in the best, most humorous way! I loved the tension between her rigorous premise and Brock's very genuine reality. His "come here, now you're mine" vibes should not have worked, yet they did, with visceral reach and a whisper of sincerity that completely wrecked me! You can sense the cold in their banter, as well as the fire boiling beneath! Ava Miles glides between comedy and love passion with a light touch and a wink, and it made me fall so hard for these people that I couldn't maintain my balance!!!
.
Brock is the handsome hockey captain with a scar and a protective streak, he's intelligent in a way that surprises you, also patient, detailed, and painfully self-aware! I admired how he broke Val's beliefs not by arguing against them, but by just existing outside of her expectations, his affection for her, quiet, faithful, almost primal, makes him the type of love interest who doesn't need to roar to take the spotlight, every scene Brock is in is packed with fossil fuels!!! The physical tension is pure bliss, yet the emotional reserve irritated me, and the way he acknowledged her strength without fleeing from it was absolute perfection!
.
The Hockey Experiment had me caught up with humour, love, and yearning. You'll cheer for these two likeable idiots to cease fighting the very thing that's tearing them apart, it's brilliant, humorous, and just the perfect amount of crazy, with a surprising heart that will catch you off guard in the middle of the chapter! If you enjoy rom-coms that are both frostbitten and flame-hot, Ava Miles has written a stunner!!! I already want to reread it, my heart lives in Ava Miles's prose forever!
.
Valentina is witty, intelligent, and doomed from the moment Brock flows into her world with quiet love and a serving of stock options, she wants control, she wants to be the cold scientist with her clipboard and neutral expressions, but each of his softly stated confessions and hot glances causes her to fall apart in the best, most humorous way! I loved the tension between her rigorous premise and Brock's very genuine reality. His "come here, now you're mine" vibes should not have worked, yet they did, with visceral reach and a whisper of sincerity that completely wrecked me! You can sense the cold in their banter, as well as the fire boiling beneath! Ava Miles glides between comedy and love passion with a light touch and a wink, and it made me fall so hard for these people that I couldn't maintain my balance!!!
.
Brock is the handsome hockey captain with a scar and a protective streak, he's intelligent in a way that surprises you, also patient, detailed, and painfully self-aware! I admired how he broke Val's beliefs not by arguing against them, but by just existing outside of her expectations, his affection for her, quiet, faithful, almost primal, makes him the type of love interest who doesn't need to roar to take the spotlight, every scene Brock is in is packed with fossil fuels!!! The physical tension is pure bliss, yet the emotional reserve irritated me, and the way he acknowledged her strength without fleeing from it was absolute perfection!
.
The Hockey Experiment had me caught up with humour, love, and yearning. You'll cheer for these two likeable idiots to cease fighting the very thing that's tearing them apart, it's brilliant, humorous, and just the perfect amount of crazy, with a surprising heart that will catch you off guard in the middle of the chapter! If you enjoy rom-coms that are both frostbitten and flame-hot, Ava Miles has written a stunner!!! I already want to reread it, my heart lives in Ava Miles's prose forever!
May 30, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.
Unfortunately, there are too many thematic issues with this book for me. On top of the writing style being subpar, I feel this author has an interesting view of men and women.
Mini spoiler — she has them dramatically in love forever and ever after knowing each other for a few days. When he doesn’t even know her last name….
Unfortunately, there are too many thematic issues with this book for me. On top of the writing style being subpar, I feel this author has an interesting view of men and women.
Mini spoiler — she has them dramatically in love forever and ever after knowing each other for a few days. When he doesn’t even know her last name….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
This book has an interesting premise but wasn’t executed in such a way that was easily readable. Val is an interesting and very educated woman who speaks oddly/awkwardly.
Brock is a great book boyfriend and uncle but he fell into insta love with Val waaaaaayyy too fast. He barely knew her or even her last name.
I love Kinsley and Zeke, Brock’s niece and nephew, and their relationship with Val and her best friend, Darla.
Also, this is a dual POV, but in third person, which has gotten really difficult for me. Just a preference.
Thank you to NetGalley, Get Red PR and the author for an advanced readers copy and a gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Brock is a great book boyfriend and uncle but he fell into insta love with Val waaaaaayyy too fast. He barely knew her or even her last name.
I love Kinsley and Zeke, Brock’s niece and nephew, and their relationship with Val and her best friend, Darla.
Also, this is a dual POV, but in third person, which has gotten really difficult for me. Just a preference.
Thank you to NetGalley, Get Red PR and the author for an advanced readers copy and a gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2025
“𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕒 𝕙𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕪 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕖𝕣? ℕ𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜𝕤. 𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖? ℕ𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥’𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘”
Oh man. I really wanted to love this one. The premise of studying the similarities of cavemen to hockey players was a brilliant twist on the run of the mill hockey romances…but unfortunately for me…it just didn’t come together.
The writing was really really hard to follow. I thought I was reading in 3rd POV but it wasn’t…it seemed almost like I was reading her subconscious thoughts and it just threw me for a loop. The FMC is Val…her and her best friend Darla have phD’s in cultural anthropology and have committed their lives to researching why men are the way they are. In a nutshell…these are two very rich and very spoiled women who are playing scientist on daddies dime. All these two do is talk. About nothing. All. The. Time. They hate men. I get it. MEN…but also…there’s a point where you take it too far and I think they hit it.
Vans dad owns a hockey team and is desperate for his team to win the Stanley cup. So what does he do? Train more? Get better players? No! Don’t be silly! He hires his daughter and her best friend to study the similarities between one of his hockey players and a caveman to get better insight on how to win…the Stanley cup…hockey…………… 🥲
I checked out. I checked out because WHAT DO YOU MEAN?? If this isn’t just the blatant flaunting of money and ridiculousness I’ve ever seen then I don’t know. They MMC, Brock (you did him dirty with that name BTW), he was literally golden retriever vibes. Perfectly sweet and caring man. Literally nothing wrong with him other than his name. And for some reason…he falls for Val. Only because the author wrote it that way. There are no redeemable qualities for this woman. None. Brock is the only thing that kept me from throwing the book against the wall. So sad.
Thank you to Ava Miles and Hambright PR for the opportunity to ARC read this book 🩷
🏒Hockey Romance
🧪Light Sci-Fi Vibes
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
🧪Spoiled FMC
🏒RomCom
🧪Coaches Daughter
🏒Forced Proximity
🧪3rd Person POV
🏒Opposites Attract
Oh man. I really wanted to love this one. The premise of studying the similarities of cavemen to hockey players was a brilliant twist on the run of the mill hockey romances…but unfortunately for me…it just didn’t come together.
The writing was really really hard to follow. I thought I was reading in 3rd POV but it wasn’t…it seemed almost like I was reading her subconscious thoughts and it just threw me for a loop. The FMC is Val…her and her best friend Darla have phD’s in cultural anthropology and have committed their lives to researching why men are the way they are. In a nutshell…these are two very rich and very spoiled women who are playing scientist on daddies dime. All these two do is talk. About nothing. All. The. Time. They hate men. I get it. MEN…but also…there’s a point where you take it too far and I think they hit it.
Vans dad owns a hockey team and is desperate for his team to win the Stanley cup. So what does he do? Train more? Get better players? No! Don’t be silly! He hires his daughter and her best friend to study the similarities between one of his hockey players and a caveman to get better insight on how to win…the Stanley cup…hockey…………… 🥲
I checked out. I checked out because WHAT DO YOU MEAN?? If this isn’t just the blatant flaunting of money and ridiculousness I’ve ever seen then I don’t know. They MMC, Brock (you did him dirty with that name BTW), he was literally golden retriever vibes. Perfectly sweet and caring man. Literally nothing wrong with him other than his name. And for some reason…he falls for Val. Only because the author wrote it that way. There are no redeemable qualities for this woman. None. Brock is the only thing that kept me from throwing the book against the wall. So sad.
Thank you to Ava Miles and Hambright PR for the opportunity to ARC read this book 🩷
🏒Hockey Romance
🧪Light Sci-Fi Vibes
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
🧪Spoiled FMC
🏒RomCom
🧪Coaches Daughter
🏒Forced Proximity
🧪3rd Person POV
🏒Opposites Attract
June 3, 2025
Finished three chapters… and just not enjoyable.
The dialogue is too much - Val and Darla talk a lot, and they’re both super annoying. Also just the casual misogyny thrown in and… nope. Not gonna read any further.
This is the second ARC by Ava Miles I’ve received via Hambright PR. I thought this one might be more my thing, but I guess it just isn’t for me.
The dialogue is too much - Val and Darla talk a lot, and they’re both super annoying. Also just the casual misogyny thrown in and… nope. Not gonna read any further.
This is the second ARC by Ava Miles I’ve received via Hambright PR. I thought this one might be more my thing, but I guess it just isn’t for me.
July 26, 2025
The Hockey Experiment
by Ava Miles
Rating Factors
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Final Rating: 3.60 ⭐️ (Rounded down to 3.5 ⭐️)
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Review
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For our MCs we have Dr. Valentina Hargrove and Brock Thomson. Val is a cultural anthropologist who’s been hired by her father to study his hockey team and to help figure out a winning strategy. She’s never been one to put consideration into romantic interests until she meets Brock.
Brock “The Rock” Thomson is the captain of the “Eagles” hockey team. He’s also doing his best to help his sister with her kids in the middle of a divorce. He’s always put hockey above all in the past, resulting in a failed marriage, but he vows to change that if another chance and a relationship presents itself.
Our side characters consist of:
* Dr. Darla James, Val’s best friend and another cultural anthropologist.
* Ted Bass, Val’s father and “Eagles” hockey team owner.
* Susan, Brock’s sister and mother to Zeke and Kinsley.
* Zeke, Brock’s nephew who wants to follow in his footsteps.
* Kinsley, Brock’s niece who’s struggling since her parents divorce.
* Chuck Collins, “Eagles” hockey coach.
* Finn Landry, Brock’s best friend and teammate.
* Mason “The Marvel”, “Eagles” player with too much ego and arrogance.
I thought this was a solid group of characters. They all fit together well and added something to the story. I didn’t really become attached to any of them, but they were overall good characters.
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The romance wasn’t bad by any means, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. Things felt a little fast moving at times and I just didn’t fall in love with their love story.
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I feel pretty much the same about the romance and spice. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t in love with the scenes either.
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thought the storyline was very promising. The execution was fine, I just wanted more.
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was not a huge fan of the writing style and the pacing felt a little too slow sometimes and a little rushed other times. I don’t think it was bad, I think it’s more a matter of personal writing style preferences.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall, it was a fine read, it just wasn’t my favorite. I think a lot of my dislikes are more personal preferences as opposed to me thinking the book wasn’t good, so don’t let my review dissuade you if you’re interested in reading this.
Thank you to Ava Miles and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
by Ava Miles
Rating Factors
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Final Rating: 3.60 ⭐️ (Rounded down to 3.5 ⭐️)
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️
Review
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For our MCs we have Dr. Valentina Hargrove and Brock Thomson. Val is a cultural anthropologist who’s been hired by her father to study his hockey team and to help figure out a winning strategy. She’s never been one to put consideration into romantic interests until she meets Brock.
Brock “The Rock” Thomson is the captain of the “Eagles” hockey team. He’s also doing his best to help his sister with her kids in the middle of a divorce. He’s always put hockey above all in the past, resulting in a failed marriage, but he vows to change that if another chance and a relationship presents itself.
Our side characters consist of:
* Dr. Darla James, Val’s best friend and another cultural anthropologist.
* Ted Bass, Val’s father and “Eagles” hockey team owner.
* Susan, Brock’s sister and mother to Zeke and Kinsley.
* Zeke, Brock’s nephew who wants to follow in his footsteps.
* Kinsley, Brock’s niece who’s struggling since her parents divorce.
* Chuck Collins, “Eagles” hockey coach.
* Finn Landry, Brock’s best friend and teammate.
* Mason “The Marvel”, “Eagles” player with too much ego and arrogance.
I thought this was a solid group of characters. They all fit together well and added something to the story. I didn’t really become attached to any of them, but they were overall good characters.
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The romance wasn’t bad by any means, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. Things felt a little fast moving at times and I just didn’t fall in love with their love story.
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I feel pretty much the same about the romance and spice. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t in love with the scenes either.
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thought the storyline was very promising. The execution was fine, I just wanted more.
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was not a huge fan of the writing style and the pacing felt a little too slow sometimes and a little rushed other times. I don’t think it was bad, I think it’s more a matter of personal writing style preferences.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall, it was a fine read, it just wasn’t my favorite. I think a lot of my dislikes are more personal preferences as opposed to me thinking the book wasn’t good, so don’t let my review dissuade you if you’re interested in reading this.
Thank you to Ava Miles and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 17, 2025
I really liked the concept of this book. The comparisons of cavemen to hockey players sounded interesting and jumped at the chance to see what it was about.
The story revolves around 2 women, Val and Darla, with a PhD in cultural anthropology who have been hired by Val's father to analyse his hockey team who have been having some issues. Their research involves comparing the modern day hockey player to the caveman, especially their similarities. Val, a very blunt, the the point and generally closed off woman, has instant attraction to the team captain, Brock and they hit it off, eventually falling in love.
I wasn't overly sure on the writing style. It's very much 3rd person but there are moments of consciousness throughout the book which threw me off a little.
I wasn't overly keen on Val. Her achedemic way of approaching every situation, although understandable, was beginning to annoy me. Could she not kiss Brock without having to catalogue her feelings and reactions. Her relationship with Darla is something I would have like explained a bit more. We know they met in boarding school and they've travelled the world together but I would have liked to know how they both ended up becoming friends. Once she started being more comfortable around Brock, I began to relate to her more.
Brock is the typical hockey guy that I love. Focussed, strong and determined on the ice and for his team and is entirely focussed on winning the Stanley Cup, He's an all round nice guy, caring for his friends and family off the ice. I actually like the way he was drawn to Val even though he knew she was hiding way more than she was willing to share.
Their romance blossomed extremely quickly and normally I'm not for insta-love but it actually felt right with these two. Val is experienced in the love part of a relationship, her previous encounters being transactional more than anything else. Brock hasn't dated since his short marriage ended in divorce years ago. They clearly both found their person in each other which was lovely. The 3rd act breakup was very short lived which I was so glad of.
I'd have love to have seen if the team move past their issues and the embarrassment to win the Stanley Cup but that's the sports fan in me talking.
Overall a good story, and a little different from the usual hockey romances.
Thanks to Ava Miles and Netgallery for this arc in return for my honest opinions. 3.5 ⭐️
The story revolves around 2 women, Val and Darla, with a PhD in cultural anthropology who have been hired by Val's father to analyse his hockey team who have been having some issues. Their research involves comparing the modern day hockey player to the caveman, especially their similarities. Val, a very blunt, the the point and generally closed off woman, has instant attraction to the team captain, Brock and they hit it off, eventually falling in love.
I wasn't overly sure on the writing style. It's very much 3rd person but there are moments of consciousness throughout the book which threw me off a little.
I wasn't overly keen on Val. Her achedemic way of approaching every situation, although understandable, was beginning to annoy me. Could she not kiss Brock without having to catalogue her feelings and reactions. Her relationship with Darla is something I would have like explained a bit more. We know they met in boarding school and they've travelled the world together but I would have liked to know how they both ended up becoming friends. Once she started being more comfortable around Brock, I began to relate to her more.
Brock is the typical hockey guy that I love. Focussed, strong and determined on the ice and for his team and is entirely focussed on winning the Stanley Cup, He's an all round nice guy, caring for his friends and family off the ice. I actually like the way he was drawn to Val even though he knew she was hiding way more than she was willing to share.
Their romance blossomed extremely quickly and normally I'm not for insta-love but it actually felt right with these two. Val is experienced in the love part of a relationship, her previous encounters being transactional more than anything else. Brock hasn't dated since his short marriage ended in divorce years ago. They clearly both found their person in each other which was lovely. The 3rd act breakup was very short lived which I was so glad of.
I'd have love to have seen if the team move past their issues and the embarrassment to win the Stanley Cup but that's the sports fan in me talking.
Overall a good story, and a little different from the usual hockey romances.
Thanks to Ava Miles and Netgallery for this arc in return for my honest opinions. 3.5 ⭐️
June 26, 2025
As always, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This story follows two anthropologists conducting an experiment over the behaviour of a group of hockey players. One of the girls soon starts to have feelings for the captain… and if you keep reading, you’ll see all the drama and secrets that unfold.
I have some thoughts on the generalization of hockey players as uneducated and dumb; as a Leafs fan, I know players like Joseph Woll (musician!) and others pursuing degrees while playing professionally, which shows that not all players lack intelligence, and if this was meant to reflect the FMC’s bias it didn’t land—especially given that the FMC has a PhD in anthropology and should understand social interactions this basic. Moving through chapters 2–6, we do love an obsessed man, yet women aren’t that confusing—calm down; the “stupid man” act persists. Lines like “I wish I could cut off one of Darren’s balls and use it for pick practice while he watches, bleeding and crying from the stands” leave me asking what in the world that is—these are grown men. The narration is third person yet feels like stream of consciousness?? Additionally, there were some basic terms in both hockey and figure skating that were told wrong. I caught quite a few. (As someone who used to be a figure skater and is a huge hockey fan, I can reasonably speak on this.) Salchow isn’t the easiest jump—it’s a simple waltz jump—and using a toe pick for a 180-degree spin would almost guarantee a face-plant. Bag skates are rare in today’s NHL and are only a last resort. And oh my days… “Ms. Sexy Librarian” as a nickname gives me the ick, they’re smashing constantly, and the main conflict seems to start 240 pages in; honestly, who let this idea become a book? In the end, I finished it and I’m leaning toward 1 star.
Please note: while I am a “lots of spice”-free reader and reviewer, I was not aware that this book had spice when I received it. I’m not going to comment on any of the smut for that reason. To be honest, I didn’t read most of it.
Overall, while I wouldn’t recommend this book, it still was interesting at times. (insert me blushing during the entire hot tub scene). That’s all my thoughts for now!
This story follows two anthropologists conducting an experiment over the behaviour of a group of hockey players. One of the girls soon starts to have feelings for the captain… and if you keep reading, you’ll see all the drama and secrets that unfold.
I have some thoughts on the generalization of hockey players as uneducated and dumb; as a Leafs fan, I know players like Joseph Woll (musician!) and others pursuing degrees while playing professionally, which shows that not all players lack intelligence, and if this was meant to reflect the FMC’s bias it didn’t land—especially given that the FMC has a PhD in anthropology and should understand social interactions this basic. Moving through chapters 2–6, we do love an obsessed man, yet women aren’t that confusing—calm down; the “stupid man” act persists. Lines like “I wish I could cut off one of Darren’s balls and use it for pick practice while he watches, bleeding and crying from the stands” leave me asking what in the world that is—these are grown men. The narration is third person yet feels like stream of consciousness?? Additionally, there were some basic terms in both hockey and figure skating that were told wrong. I caught quite a few. (As someone who used to be a figure skater and is a huge hockey fan, I can reasonably speak on this.) Salchow isn’t the easiest jump—it’s a simple waltz jump—and using a toe pick for a 180-degree spin would almost guarantee a face-plant. Bag skates are rare in today’s NHL and are only a last resort. And oh my days… “Ms. Sexy Librarian” as a nickname gives me the ick, they’re smashing constantly, and the main conflict seems to start 240 pages in; honestly, who let this idea become a book? In the end, I finished it and I’m leaning toward 1 star.
Please note: while I am a “lots of spice”-free reader and reviewer, I was not aware that this book had spice when I received it. I’m not going to comment on any of the smut for that reason. To be honest, I didn’t read most of it.
Overall, while I wouldn’t recommend this book, it still was interesting at times. (insert me blushing during the entire hot tub scene). That’s all my thoughts for now!
June 2, 2025
Title: The Hockey Experiment
Author: Ava Miles
Genre: Sports Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 436
Rating: 4⭐️/5
“Are hockey players modern cavemen?”
Two anthropology PhDs, Val and her best friend, are hired by Val’s rich dad to study his struggling hockey team—by comparing players to cavemen. Val, serious and analytical, clashes (and connects) with Brock, the golden-retriever team captain. Brock is the quintessential nice guy—famous on the ice but, more importantly, a caring friend and devoted uncle to his niece and nephew. He’s laser-focused on winning the Stanley Cup, but everything changes when a rough practice leaves him crashing into a wall and locking eyes with Val. From that moment, he’s totally drawn to her. Val is a super brainy, no-nonsense researcher with zero filter, and Brock is the sweet, golden-hearted team captain who falls for her fast. What starts as a weird research gig turns into a sweet, surprising romance. He’s all heart, she’s all brains, and together they figure out that love isn’t something you can study—it just happens.
This quirky hockey romance surprised me in the best way! The writing—third person with a stream-of-consciousness vibe—took a minute to click, but once it did, the smart banter and sweet found family moments really stood out. I loved the FMC’s best friend, Darla, who totally stole the show by keeping things grounded and adding the perfect balance, making the story feel even more real. And the cover? Super cute, and it really shows off the story’s humor and charm—definitely one you’ll want to have in your library! This unique storyline is definitely not your usual hockey story. With tropes like sports romance, workplace dynamics, coach’s daughter, he falls first, forced proximity, she’s got secrets, and found family, this one’s a fun, heartfelt read with nerdy-meets-athlete vibes—definitely worth checking out!
A big thanks to Hambright PR and Ava Miles for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!
Releasing 06/09/25 on Amazon, KU, and paperback.
E-book pre-orders are available NOW.
—
#AdvancedReaderCopy
Author: Ava Miles
Genre: Sports Romance / Romantic Comedy
Pages: 436
Rating: 4⭐️/5
“Are hockey players modern cavemen?”
Two anthropology PhDs, Val and her best friend, are hired by Val’s rich dad to study his struggling hockey team—by comparing players to cavemen. Val, serious and analytical, clashes (and connects) with Brock, the golden-retriever team captain. Brock is the quintessential nice guy—famous on the ice but, more importantly, a caring friend and devoted uncle to his niece and nephew. He’s laser-focused on winning the Stanley Cup, but everything changes when a rough practice leaves him crashing into a wall and locking eyes with Val. From that moment, he’s totally drawn to her. Val is a super brainy, no-nonsense researcher with zero filter, and Brock is the sweet, golden-hearted team captain who falls for her fast. What starts as a weird research gig turns into a sweet, surprising romance. He’s all heart, she’s all brains, and together they figure out that love isn’t something you can study—it just happens.
This quirky hockey romance surprised me in the best way! The writing—third person with a stream-of-consciousness vibe—took a minute to click, but once it did, the smart banter and sweet found family moments really stood out. I loved the FMC’s best friend, Darla, who totally stole the show by keeping things grounded and adding the perfect balance, making the story feel even more real. And the cover? Super cute, and it really shows off the story’s humor and charm—definitely one you’ll want to have in your library! This unique storyline is definitely not your usual hockey story. With tropes like sports romance, workplace dynamics, coach’s daughter, he falls first, forced proximity, she’s got secrets, and found family, this one’s a fun, heartfelt read with nerdy-meets-athlete vibes—definitely worth checking out!
A big thanks to Hambright PR and Ava Miles for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!
Releasing 06/09/25 on Amazon, KU, and paperback.
E-book pre-orders are available NOW.
—
#AdvancedReaderCopy
June 9, 2025
3.5⭐️
Cute hockey romance with an interesting premise.
the FMC is a cultural anthropologist who was hired (along with her academic partner and best friend) by her father to help study his struggling professional hockey team. Through their study to determine whether hockey players are modern day cavemen, Val meets and falls in love with the team’s captain Brock.
The book gives some interesting insights into men and women from a scientific point of view, but also has some great displays of familial and platonic love. It was an interesting read, and I couldn’t help but continue reading to know how everything worked out in the end. I did have some issues with the overall book, though.
Positives first though.. I enjoyed how the characters were more complex, and ! connecting through some of the similarities in their lives. I enjoyed how the chapters began with a question that related to how that character was feeling/going through, and the chapters flowed pretty well. I also enjoyed how both Brock and Val had some of the same questions regarding their feelings about one another. It was cute!
There were also things I did not enjoy, unfortunately. I felt that some of the comparisons of men and women throughout the book were slightly out of taste.. I can understand the ‘primal urge’ and the science, but I would also say not introducing a little bit of cultural commentary to go along with some of the facts took away from certain bits for me. I also found the writing style unique, and slightly difficult to follow at times. I also felt the book ended so abruptly! i wanted a little more, an epilogue, something. It felt like everything happened in a handful of pages and then i was left with nothing!
Overall—good cute romance! I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so it took me a little longer to get into. Once I did get started, though, i finished in two sittings lol.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for review.
Cute hockey romance with an interesting premise.
the FMC is a cultural anthropologist who was hired (along with her academic partner and best friend) by her father to help study his struggling professional hockey team. Through their study to determine whether hockey players are modern day cavemen, Val meets and falls in love with the team’s captain Brock.
The book gives some interesting insights into men and women from a scientific point of view, but also has some great displays of familial and platonic love. It was an interesting read, and I couldn’t help but continue reading to know how everything worked out in the end. I did have some issues with the overall book, though.
Positives first though.. I enjoyed how the characters were more complex, and ! connecting through some of the similarities in their lives. I enjoyed how the chapters began with a question that related to how that character was feeling/going through, and the chapters flowed pretty well. I also enjoyed how both Brock and Val had some of the same questions regarding their feelings about one another. It was cute!
There were also things I did not enjoy, unfortunately. I felt that some of the comparisons of men and women throughout the book were slightly out of taste.. I can understand the ‘primal urge’ and the science, but I would also say not introducing a little bit of cultural commentary to go along with some of the facts took away from certain bits for me. I also found the writing style unique, and slightly difficult to follow at times. I also felt the book ended so abruptly! i wanted a little more, an epilogue, something. It felt like everything happened in a handful of pages and then i was left with nothing!
Overall—good cute romance! I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so it took me a little longer to get into. Once I did get started, though, i finished in two sittings lol.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for review.
July 17, 2025
Let me preface by saying I am not a dedicated sports romance or spice reader and do not let that affect my overall enjoyment of a potentially good love story. My previous books from Ava have been funny and charming so far and I was aiming for the same experience with 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. This is my experimental exploration into the sub-genre and also an induction into hockey romances. It definitely had an alluring pink cover, promising premise, and a handful of humorous caveman taglines.
What I enjoyed about the story was the strong family dynamics and its hero, Brock Thomson, captain of the Alexandria Eagles. He is our golden boy and falls immediately in love with FMC, Dr. Valentina Hargrove. She is an expert cultural anthropologist employed by her father to conduct a field study for his team. I appeal to Val’s characterization as a reserve and heavily guarded intellect and liked the long-standing friendship she has with Darla. All the supporting characters were great too but my favorite part was the tension and conflict near the last quarter of the book.
What didn’t work for me was the excessive and awkward dialogue between the couple during love scenes. I’m a fan of opposite attractions but this felt too clinical and dry, even for my taste. Maybe it’s perfect in theory but the romance did feel very much labored and contrived. What irked me most was how Brock, our caveman golden retriever, could suddenly changed his tune the moment things flipped for him. It felt extremely incongruent considering his overflowing profession of love for her prior to the incident that broke the camel’s back.
Overall a mixed experience and not my favorite of hers. With that said, this may very well be my final sports romance but not my last book from Ava Miles. I adore her characters and captivating plot in spite of my findings underneath the caveman loincloth.
Thanks to Ava & Get Red PR for my copy, all opinions expressed here are truly my own.
What I enjoyed about the story was the strong family dynamics and its hero, Brock Thomson, captain of the Alexandria Eagles. He is our golden boy and falls immediately in love with FMC, Dr. Valentina Hargrove. She is an expert cultural anthropologist employed by her father to conduct a field study for his team. I appeal to Val’s characterization as a reserve and heavily guarded intellect and liked the long-standing friendship she has with Darla. All the supporting characters were great too but my favorite part was the tension and conflict near the last quarter of the book.
What didn’t work for me was the excessive and awkward dialogue between the couple during love scenes. I’m a fan of opposite attractions but this felt too clinical and dry, even for my taste. Maybe it’s perfect in theory but the romance did feel very much labored and contrived. What irked me most was how Brock, our caveman golden retriever, could suddenly changed his tune the moment things flipped for him. It felt extremely incongruent considering his overflowing profession of love for her prior to the incident that broke the camel’s back.
Overall a mixed experience and not my favorite of hers. With that said, this may very well be my final sports romance but not my last book from Ava Miles. I adore her characters and captivating plot in spite of my findings underneath the caveman loincloth.
Thanks to Ava & Get Red PR for my copy, all opinions expressed here are truly my own.
June 23, 2025
The Hockey Experiment is an absolute delight from start to finish! The premise of a sharp, no-nonsense anthropologist dating a hockey player as part of a “research project” feels refreshingly original and hilariously clever. Val, the coach’s daughter and a devoted academic, embarks on a study to determine whether hockey players are essentially modern-day cavemen. Her primary subject? Brock, the effortlessly charming team captain who’s more than willing to put her theories and her heart to the test.
Val and Brock couldn’t be more different, which makes their dynamic endlessly entertaining. Watching Val attempt to keep things strictly professional while Brock persistently flusters her with his confidence and charisma is pure fun. Their chemistry is electric, and while the story leans on the insta-love trope, it works beautifully thanks to their witty banter and genuine emotional connection.
This rom-com delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, some hilariously over-the-top in the best way, while also surprising with its warmth and sincerity. Brock may appear to be your classic tough guy, but there’s a depth to him that makes his character truly compelling. I found myself fully invested in their relationship and rooting for them every step of the way.
Beyond the romance, the book shines with its smart blend of sports, science, and heart. The hockey scenes feel authentic, the anthropology angle adds a unique twist, and Val’s quirky research methods bring an extra layer of humor and originality.
The Hockey Experiment is a feel-good, fast-paced read that mixes romance, humor, and intellect in all the right ways. If you’re a fan of STEM heroines, lovable athletes, and stories that balance sass with swoon, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you so much to @avamiles and @hambright_pr for the complimentary copy of this eARC!
Val and Brock couldn’t be more different, which makes their dynamic endlessly entertaining. Watching Val attempt to keep things strictly professional while Brock persistently flusters her with his confidence and charisma is pure fun. Their chemistry is electric, and while the story leans on the insta-love trope, it works beautifully thanks to their witty banter and genuine emotional connection.
This rom-com delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, some hilariously over-the-top in the best way, while also surprising with its warmth and sincerity. Brock may appear to be your classic tough guy, but there’s a depth to him that makes his character truly compelling. I found myself fully invested in their relationship and rooting for them every step of the way.
Beyond the romance, the book shines with its smart blend of sports, science, and heart. The hockey scenes feel authentic, the anthropology angle adds a unique twist, and Val’s quirky research methods bring an extra layer of humor and originality.
The Hockey Experiment is a feel-good, fast-paced read that mixes romance, humor, and intellect in all the right ways. If you’re a fan of STEM heroines, lovable athletes, and stories that balance sass with swoon, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you so much to @avamiles and @hambright_pr for the complimentary copy of this eARC!
July 28, 2025
So, firstly, I’m really really not a fan of the writing style. It was incredibly hard to get into and you are are thrown in with almost no background
It reads like 3rd person but also somehow stream of consciousness 🤷🏻♀️ how, why, I don’t know.
Anywho, it’s starts off with seemingly two well educated (as they keep mentioning their credentials) spoiled rich girls who have decided men are the problem (to all the questions) and they have been studying men for years.
It definitely starts off in the man hater category; it reads as two insecure women who haven’t found dating happiness and have familial relationship trauma.
It’s heavy handed girl power, even though they are banked rolled by FMCs father.
But alas these women are VERY full of themselves and don’t seem to be cognizant that there are two genders to every heterosexual relationship and the fault cannot lay 100% with one gender…
The whole premise of the study doesn’t make sense to me.
They are hired by FMC’s father, who owns the team, to study the guys to help them win the Stanley Cup. Not sure how a study equating hockey players to cavemen would help… but hey, he’s rich and his daughter fancies herself the next big cultural anthropologist and he has money to throw at her ambitions. We love a supportive dad, even if he buys her accolades.
Enter the MMC the quintessential nice guy, sure he’s a famous hockey player but outside of that, he’s a caring friend and brother who finds a woman he’s captivated by. He’s trying to think of ways to help his team, taking care of his niece and nephew.
Their very skewed and hidden agenda relationship was hard for me to read or get into. I don’t think the book was bad but it really wasn’t my thing. I love a hockey romance but this one just didn’t grab me. As much as I liked the MMC and his family, I disliked Val and Darla.
It reads like 3rd person but also somehow stream of consciousness 🤷🏻♀️ how, why, I don’t know.
Anywho, it’s starts off with seemingly two well educated (as they keep mentioning their credentials) spoiled rich girls who have decided men are the problem (to all the questions) and they have been studying men for years.
It definitely starts off in the man hater category; it reads as two insecure women who haven’t found dating happiness and have familial relationship trauma.
It’s heavy handed girl power, even though they are banked rolled by FMCs father.
But alas these women are VERY full of themselves and don’t seem to be cognizant that there are two genders to every heterosexual relationship and the fault cannot lay 100% with one gender…
The whole premise of the study doesn’t make sense to me.
They are hired by FMC’s father, who owns the team, to study the guys to help them win the Stanley Cup. Not sure how a study equating hockey players to cavemen would help… but hey, he’s rich and his daughter fancies herself the next big cultural anthropologist and he has money to throw at her ambitions. We love a supportive dad, even if he buys her accolades.
Enter the MMC the quintessential nice guy, sure he’s a famous hockey player but outside of that, he’s a caring friend and brother who finds a woman he’s captivated by. He’s trying to think of ways to help his team, taking care of his niece and nephew.
Their very skewed and hidden agenda relationship was hard for me to read or get into. I don’t think the book was bad but it really wasn’t my thing. I love a hockey romance but this one just didn’t grab me. As much as I liked the MMC and his family, I disliked Val and Darla.
June 1, 2025
This is a cute hockey romance with a unique premise. The FMC Val is an anthropologist who was tapped to look into a study to correlate hockey players to cavemen. She also happens to be the team owner's daughter. The MMC Brock is the captain of said team who was the subject of this study. The connection and feelings between Val and Brock is instant. We see both of them struggle to explain that connection. I like the way Brock cares about his niece and nephew and how Val and kids got attached to each other instantly too. I like the science aspect and the findings were interesting. The way each chapter starts with a question was a fun way to have instead of chapter titles. The spice was just enough and there was a good balance of romance and spice.
Now onto to the things I didnt like. I think the pacing was off. It went from that instant connection to I love yous to marry me?! The first 50% of the book dragged on a bit and then the last 50% went by so fast. The "conflict" towards the end was a bit crazy. I dont know how the study of them being "cavemen" can cause that ripple effect on Brock. I dont get the Mason character (maybe he'll have his own book or something but I dont know why there was so much focus on him). SomeVal's dialogues and her narrating or explaining the science between what they were doing were cringe. Like for me, it wasnt necessary to be blurted out. It takes the sexy out of it and would probably turn me off if I'm Brock.
Despite all these, I still think this is a good read. It's interesting, unique, sweet and spicy all rolled into 1 book. Perfect in between any heavy reads as well!
Thank you to the author and Get Red PR for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Now onto to the things I didnt like. I think the pacing was off. It went from that instant connection to I love yous to marry me?! The first 50% of the book dragged on a bit and then the last 50% went by so fast. The "conflict" towards the end was a bit crazy. I dont know how the study of them being "cavemen" can cause that ripple effect on Brock. I dont get the Mason character (maybe he'll have his own book or something but I dont know why there was so much focus on him). SomeVal's dialogues and her narrating or explaining the science between what they were doing were cringe. Like for me, it wasnt necessary to be blurted out. It takes the sexy out of it and would probably turn me off if I'm Brock.
Despite all these, I still think this is a good read. It's interesting, unique, sweet and spicy all rolled into 1 book. Perfect in between any heavy reads as well!
Thank you to the author and Get Red PR for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
June 27, 2025
“Even one moment of kindness could change a life."
"I want you to breathe me in. All the way. Until there’s no place I’m not a part of.”
The very funny, adorably flirty, and filled with feelings, The Hockey Experiment, by creative RomCom author Ava Miles, has a wild original plot, that had me laughing and emotional with all the feels all at the same time.
Dr. Valentina Hargrove's meet cute with captain of the hockey team, Brock "The Rock" Thomson is an unexpected one. She's trying not to be seen in her two sizes too big lab coat, wearing her oversized eyeglasses and her hair in a messy bun, studying the hockey players in the rink when Brock is slammed into the wall by a teammate during practice. He looks up, their eyes meet and both are confused but curious...very curious.
Val and her bestie Darla have been hired by the team owner to study these players and compare them to cavemen. After all, the young players are fighting the older ones for dominance, they have their pregame rituals, and let's not get into their insatiable appetites.
Val is shy and a bit awkward. She has trauma from her mistreatment as a junior Olympic ice skater. Brock feels the responsibility of caring for his newly divorced sister and her daughter and son who now live with him.
As Val and Brock slowly burn their way toward each other we get awesome moments of female positivity and bonding, goofball sexy hockey players and, did I mention, Val's Dad is the team owner...shh... it's a secret!
From the hilarious chapter titles to sex scenes involving steak juice...yeah you read that right, to swoony stem romance to witty banter, The Hockey Experiment is a success.
I received a free copy of this book from Hambright PR for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
"I want you to breathe me in. All the way. Until there’s no place I’m not a part of.”
The very funny, adorably flirty, and filled with feelings, The Hockey Experiment, by creative RomCom author Ava Miles, has a wild original plot, that had me laughing and emotional with all the feels all at the same time.
Dr. Valentina Hargrove's meet cute with captain of the hockey team, Brock "The Rock" Thomson is an unexpected one. She's trying not to be seen in her two sizes too big lab coat, wearing her oversized eyeglasses and her hair in a messy bun, studying the hockey players in the rink when Brock is slammed into the wall by a teammate during practice. He looks up, their eyes meet and both are confused but curious...very curious.
Val and her bestie Darla have been hired by the team owner to study these players and compare them to cavemen. After all, the young players are fighting the older ones for dominance, they have their pregame rituals, and let's not get into their insatiable appetites.
Val is shy and a bit awkward. She has trauma from her mistreatment as a junior Olympic ice skater. Brock feels the responsibility of caring for his newly divorced sister and her daughter and son who now live with him.
As Val and Brock slowly burn their way toward each other we get awesome moments of female positivity and bonding, goofball sexy hockey players and, did I mention, Val's Dad is the team owner...shh... it's a secret!
From the hilarious chapter titles to sex scenes involving steak juice...yeah you read that right, to swoony stem romance to witty banter, The Hockey Experiment is a success.
I received a free copy of this book from Hambright PR for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 21, 2025
Thank you to @GetRedPR and @AvaMiles for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Hockey Experiment is smart, funny, and unexpectedly heartfelt — the kind of book that sneaks up on you in the best way.
Valentina, our FMC's research project is absolutely unhinged in the funniest of ways. She dives into the world of pro hockey for science, determined to stay objective. Enter Brock: the ridiculously charming, incredibly attractive hockey player who makes “staying professional” a total lost cause. Their chemistry is instant, and the banter is sharp, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny. I had a permanent grin on my face.
Val’s internal struggle — wanting to keep things strictly academic while dealing with very real, very inconvenient feelings — felt incredibly relatable. And Brock surprised me. He’s not just the classic sports romance heartthrob (though he definitely checks that box); he’s thoughtful, grounded, and knows exactly how to throw Val off her game in the best possible way.
The romance builds in such a satisfying, slow-burn way. It’s fun and flirty, but also layered with real emotional stakes that give it depth. And the sports drama? Just enough to raise the tension without taking over the story. Everything blended together so well — the humor, the heart, the heat.
By the end, I was fully invested and honestly didn’t want it to end. If you’re into laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with strong, smart heroines, swoony heroes, and just the right dose of sports, this one’s a total win.
On Sale June 9!
4.25
#TheHockeyExperiment, #AvaMiles, #GetRedPR, #HockeyRomance
The Hockey Experiment is smart, funny, and unexpectedly heartfelt — the kind of book that sneaks up on you in the best way.
Valentina, our FMC's research project is absolutely unhinged in the funniest of ways. She dives into the world of pro hockey for science, determined to stay objective. Enter Brock: the ridiculously charming, incredibly attractive hockey player who makes “staying professional” a total lost cause. Their chemistry is instant, and the banter is sharp, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny. I had a permanent grin on my face.
Val’s internal struggle — wanting to keep things strictly academic while dealing with very real, very inconvenient feelings — felt incredibly relatable. And Brock surprised me. He’s not just the classic sports romance heartthrob (though he definitely checks that box); he’s thoughtful, grounded, and knows exactly how to throw Val off her game in the best possible way.
The romance builds in such a satisfying, slow-burn way. It’s fun and flirty, but also layered with real emotional stakes that give it depth. And the sports drama? Just enough to raise the tension without taking over the story. Everything blended together so well — the humor, the heart, the heat.
By the end, I was fully invested and honestly didn’t want it to end. If you’re into laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with strong, smart heroines, swoony heroes, and just the right dose of sports, this one’s a total win.
On Sale June 9!
4.25
#TheHockeyExperiment, #AvaMiles, #GetRedPR, #HockeyRomance
June 14, 2025
🏒 Val, a cultural anthropologist, and Darla, her research partner and best friend, are hired to study a professional hockey team, The Eagles, and analyze their behavior in an effort to improve their cohesiveness. When Val falls for Brock, the team captain, they vow to keep their relationship a secret for the sake of Val’s role with the team. After Val and Darla’s final assessment of the Eagles is submitted, their findings are negatively manipulated and Brock’s career and his relationship with Val are caught in the crossfire. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
🏒 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 - 𝙃𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮
🎀 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝'𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧
🕵️ 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧/𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙁𝙈𝘾
🤏🏼 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙮
🕶️ 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨
🥅 𝙃𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙈𝘾
💼 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚
🧑🧑🧒🧒 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮
I really enjoyed Val and Brock and their clandestine workplace romance. I love that Val is a strong and independent woman who knows her emotional limits and that Brock is a nice guy, open and honest about his feelings for Val. I will never get tired of cinnamon roll heroes like him. I especially admire Miles’ ability to write characters that are fun and flirty and so so sexy well also being intelligent, vulnerable, and sincere. It gives her writing a more believable quality that keeps me coming back for more. Darla and Brock’s extended family are some of the real stars of this book. Their unwavering love, support, and comic relief added real magic to these pages! The t-shirts with slogans had me rolling.
Check this one out if you like an intelligent and flirty sports romance with a classic nice guy MMC, strong friendships, and a found family dynamic. Pairs well with hot cocoa on some freezing cold bleachers.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
🏒 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 - 𝙃𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮
🎀 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝'𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧
🕵️ 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧/𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙁𝙈𝘾
🤏🏼 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙮
🕶️ 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨
🥅 𝙃𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙈𝘾
💼 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚
🧑🧑🧒🧒 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮
I really enjoyed Val and Brock and their clandestine workplace romance. I love that Val is a strong and independent woman who knows her emotional limits and that Brock is a nice guy, open and honest about his feelings for Val. I will never get tired of cinnamon roll heroes like him. I especially admire Miles’ ability to write characters that are fun and flirty and so so sexy well also being intelligent, vulnerable, and sincere. It gives her writing a more believable quality that keeps me coming back for more. Darla and Brock’s extended family are some of the real stars of this book. Their unwavering love, support, and comic relief added real magic to these pages! The t-shirts with slogans had me rolling.
Check this one out if you like an intelligent and flirty sports romance with a classic nice guy MMC, strong friendships, and a found family dynamic. Pairs well with hot cocoa on some freezing cold bleachers.
July 1, 2025
Brock is team captain of the The Eagles hockey team. He wants to win the Stanley Cup and retire at the end of the season. He has no idea why the team hired the two women who now follow the team around but if it will help the team to win, he is willing to go along with it. Val is a cultural anthropologist. She and her partner are hired to study the team dynamics to help the team win. She doesn’t tell anyone but the owner and coach what she is doing or why. She is at a turning point in her career. She really wants this project to work so that she can pivot and do this type of work going forward. He’s her test subject and she’s the boss's daughter. Can they navigate the challenges and figure out a way to be together?
Brock is a good guy. He has worked hard to have a successful career in hockey. He has plans for his post hockey life. I understood his drive to win the championship before retiring. I like that the author had Brock butting heads with people as he tried to motivate the team. Val is funny and quirky. She is very smart and works hard studying the team. I understood why she was attracted to Brock and was willing to pursue a relationship with him. The way that they navigated their relationship was fun and it made me smile. And the big reveal about Val’s job was well done. In the end, I believe that Val’s team dynamics study helped the team to succeed and that Brock was the kind of man that could understand the work she was doing.
This is a sweet love story with hockey as the backdrop. This story takes place in Minneapolis. I enjoyed the journey and I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
Brock is a good guy. He has worked hard to have a successful career in hockey. He has plans for his post hockey life. I understood his drive to win the championship before retiring. I like that the author had Brock butting heads with people as he tried to motivate the team. Val is funny and quirky. She is very smart and works hard studying the team. I understood why she was attracted to Brock and was willing to pursue a relationship with him. The way that they navigated their relationship was fun and it made me smile. And the big reveal about Val’s job was well done. In the end, I believe that Val’s team dynamics study helped the team to succeed and that Brock was the kind of man that could understand the work she was doing.
This is a sweet love story with hockey as the backdrop. This story takes place in Minneapolis. I enjoyed the journey and I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
June 11, 2025
3.5 STARS
Two Cultural Anthropology specialists embark into an experiment to learn how caveman and hockey players are similar and use that knowledge to help a hockey team ro win their next championship. But alas, love and passion doesn't always abide by the rules and so one falls for the team captain. More specifically, the team owner's daughter. The Hockey Experiment by Ava Miles was a witty and entertaining hockey rom com with some adorable characters.
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 STEM heroine
🏒 alpha hero with Cinnamon roll energy
🏒 forbidden romance
🏒 forced proximity
🏒 he falls first
I instantly loved Brock. He is dedicated, loyal and focused. And it goes for both his team and his family. He is the proverbial good guy. Kind. Caring. Protective. Wife a very strong moral compass. So falling for the team's new analyst on the first visit was out of norm. But he broke Val's wall. Now Val is a conundrum. She is portrayed as this extremely shy and nerdy woman who can only see life in form scientific datas and values. I feel it was very stereotypical portrayal of a female scientist and also, a bit unrealistic. Because she isn't just an introvert scientist, she also used to be a very successful figure skater. So her reactions to simple actions of Brock seemed a bit over the top. I did love her better as the story progressed and she started behaving somehow normal. Even showing her witty and sharp sides. But Brock didn't know about her true identity or mission with team. When her observations were used in a bad manner by the coach to motivate the team, everything came crashing down. But there wasn't roo much drama and I liked that.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Two Cultural Anthropology specialists embark into an experiment to learn how caveman and hockey players are similar and use that knowledge to help a hockey team ro win their next championship. But alas, love and passion doesn't always abide by the rules and so one falls for the team captain. More specifically, the team owner's daughter. The Hockey Experiment by Ava Miles was a witty and entertaining hockey rom com with some adorable characters.
🏒 hockey romance
🏒 STEM heroine
🏒 alpha hero with Cinnamon roll energy
🏒 forbidden romance
🏒 forced proximity
🏒 he falls first
I instantly loved Brock. He is dedicated, loyal and focused. And it goes for both his team and his family. He is the proverbial good guy. Kind. Caring. Protective. Wife a very strong moral compass. So falling for the team's new analyst on the first visit was out of norm. But he broke Val's wall. Now Val is a conundrum. She is portrayed as this extremely shy and nerdy woman who can only see life in form scientific datas and values. I feel it was very stereotypical portrayal of a female scientist and also, a bit unrealistic. Because she isn't just an introvert scientist, she also used to be a very successful figure skater. So her reactions to simple actions of Brock seemed a bit over the top. I did love her better as the story progressed and she started behaving somehow normal. Even showing her witty and sharp sides. But Brock didn't know about her true identity or mission with team. When her observations were used in a bad manner by the coach to motivate the team, everything came crashing down. But there wasn't roo much drama and I liked that.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
July 1, 2025
Not your average sports romcom
This was an unexpected spin on the hockey romcom I accustomed to. Val and her anthropologic research partner, Darla, are getting out of the jungle and back to the city to analyze her father’s hockey team as they relate to cavemen. Unexpected premise, but it really worked. Brock is the hockey captain just trying to win the cup before he retires from the game. He has also taken in his sister and her kids after her divorce.
Val tries to fall into the background and observe. She wants to keep her father and past hidden while she works. As much as she tries to hide behind the loose clothing and over sized glasses, Brock immediately sees through it and is intrigued by her. These two could not fight their attraction and I loved every minute. While Val is smart, empathetic and beautiful, she also is very shy and literal when she interacts with people. Brock is struggling to find a way to help his sister and her kids. The more time they spend together, the more they figure out just how compatible they are. They really seemed to be what the other needed.
I thought the characters were well developed and I hope we will see more of them in the future. The secondary characters were just as fun as the main characters. It’s a funny, sweet, smart and unexpected romcom. A smart, beautiful, funny researcher meets the loyal, hardworking, hot, sweet hockey player. What’s not to love? Plus, anything that references Joe and the Volcano has my undivided attention.
This was an unexpected spin on the hockey romcom I accustomed to. Val and her anthropologic research partner, Darla, are getting out of the jungle and back to the city to analyze her father’s hockey team as they relate to cavemen. Unexpected premise, but it really worked. Brock is the hockey captain just trying to win the cup before he retires from the game. He has also taken in his sister and her kids after her divorce.
Val tries to fall into the background and observe. She wants to keep her father and past hidden while she works. As much as she tries to hide behind the loose clothing and over sized glasses, Brock immediately sees through it and is intrigued by her. These two could not fight their attraction and I loved every minute. While Val is smart, empathetic and beautiful, she also is very shy and literal when she interacts with people. Brock is struggling to find a way to help his sister and her kids. The more time they spend together, the more they figure out just how compatible they are. They really seemed to be what the other needed.
I thought the characters were well developed and I hope we will see more of them in the future. The secondary characters were just as fun as the main characters. It’s a funny, sweet, smart and unexpected romcom. A smart, beautiful, funny researcher meets the loyal, hardworking, hot, sweet hockey player. What’s not to love? Plus, anything that references Joe and the Volcano has my undivided attention.
September 15, 2025
This is not your average sports romcom. With a nerdy spin and a hockey player with a heart of gold, this is a happy feel-good story.
The characters are fun and interesting while the plot brings humor and lighthearted romance. There definitely were many laugh-out-loud moments.
I found it entertaining how the FMC and her BFF dissected the hockey players' behavior scientifically. Describing and comparing them to cavemen was hilarious.
The MMC is not your typical hockey alpha male, he's a total cinnamon roll.
The MCs' meet-cute was adorable and funny. How their relationship developed was heart-warming and sweet. They have a good build-up to the romance it's not insta-love by any means. At about 50% of the way through the book the open-door spice kicks in.
This book is written in dual 3rd person POV.
I took off a star simply because the characters didn't really resonate with me. I still enjoyed the story itself I thought it was funny and entertaining but the connection just wasn't there for me. Also as a personal preference, I would have liked the book more if it were written in first-person POV and the chapters clearly stated who was narrating. Side note, not to judge a book by its cover but I found the pink cover atrocious.
Overall this was still a 4-star read for me as the characters were endearing and made me laugh.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
The characters are fun and interesting while the plot brings humor and lighthearted romance. There definitely were many laugh-out-loud moments.
I found it entertaining how the FMC and her BFF dissected the hockey players' behavior scientifically. Describing and comparing them to cavemen was hilarious.
The MMC is not your typical hockey alpha male, he's a total cinnamon roll.
The MCs' meet-cute was adorable and funny. How their relationship developed was heart-warming and sweet. They have a good build-up to the romance it's not insta-love by any means. At about 50% of the way through the book the open-door spice kicks in.
This book is written in dual 3rd person POV.
I took off a star simply because the characters didn't really resonate with me. I still enjoyed the story itself I thought it was funny and entertaining but the connection just wasn't there for me. Also as a personal preference, I would have liked the book more if it were written in first-person POV and the chapters clearly stated who was narrating. Side note, not to judge a book by its cover but I found the pink cover atrocious.
Overall this was still a 4-star read for me as the characters were endearing and made me laugh.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
June 6, 2025
I loved how quirky and brilliant Val was—she’s the kind of heroine who lives in her own head, overthinks everything, and tries so hard to stay in control, which just made it that much sweeter when Brock barreled in and threw all her carefully laid plans out the window. They’re total opposites on paper—an academic researcher studying athletes and a hockey team captain who seems like her worst-case subject—but somehow, they just work.
Ava Miles did such a great job making their dynamic feel natural and full of chemistry. I was hooked watching them fall for each other so quickly, yet in a way that felt believable. Brock accepting Val exactly as she is—even when he doesn’t fully understand her or know all the details—was so swoony. It wasn’t about fixing her or changing her, it was about showing up, being steady, and letting her be exactly who she is.
I’m usually not a huge fan of the hockey romance trope, but this one completely won me over. The humor, the banter, the heart—it all had that signature Ava Miles touch that makes her books stand out. And can we talk about that cover? It’s just as adorable and feel-good as the story inside. If you like opposites attract with a dash of nerdy, heartfelt chaos, you’ll love this one as much as I did.
Ava Miles did such a great job making their dynamic feel natural and full of chemistry. I was hooked watching them fall for each other so quickly, yet in a way that felt believable. Brock accepting Val exactly as she is—even when he doesn’t fully understand her or know all the details—was so swoony. It wasn’t about fixing her or changing her, it was about showing up, being steady, and letting her be exactly who she is.
I’m usually not a huge fan of the hockey romance trope, but this one completely won me over. The humor, the banter, the heart—it all had that signature Ava Miles touch that makes her books stand out. And can we talk about that cover? It’s just as adorable and feel-good as the story inside. If you like opposites attract with a dash of nerdy, heartfelt chaos, you’ll love this one as much as I did.
June 9, 2025
I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed reading The Hockey Experiment. Although it was a work of fiction, it felt so real. Ava Miles did a phenomenal job with incorporating anthropology talk into this novel. I felt like I was back in college and I…ATE IT UP!
As the MMC, Brock was pretty awesome! He was not the typical jock. He was loving, kind, and was such a family guy! I am all about book boyfriends and Brock “The Rock” Thomson is top notch!
As an FMC, Val was incredible. Smart, funny, witty and did I mention smart? She sells herself short most of the time but I think that Brock helps her understand what a great catch she truly is.
Can we talk about female friendships!? I absolutely loved the relationship between the girls! They were a smart dynamic duo! Val and Darla are friendship goals for sure! My inner geek was loving their interactions.
This is the second book I read by Ava Miles and I highly recommend. This is the epitome of a well written rom-com!
Book Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️5/5
TROPES
🏒 Sports Romance - Hockey
🎀 Coach's Daughter
🕵️ Researcher/Anthropologist FMC
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🕶️ She is mysterious
🥅 Hockey Player MMC
💼 Workplace Romance
As the MMC, Brock was pretty awesome! He was not the typical jock. He was loving, kind, and was such a family guy! I am all about book boyfriends and Brock “The Rock” Thomson is top notch!
As an FMC, Val was incredible. Smart, funny, witty and did I mention smart? She sells herself short most of the time but I think that Brock helps her understand what a great catch she truly is.
Can we talk about female friendships!? I absolutely loved the relationship between the girls! They were a smart dynamic duo! Val and Darla are friendship goals for sure! My inner geek was loving their interactions.
This is the second book I read by Ava Miles and I highly recommend. This is the epitome of a well written rom-com!
Book Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️5/5
TROPES
🏒 Sports Romance - Hockey
🎀 Coach's Daughter
🕵️ Researcher/Anthropologist FMC
🤏🏼 Forced Proximity
🕶️ She is mysterious
🥅 Hockey Player MMC
💼 Workplace Romance
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews