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Play Along With Me
She’s his fake girlfriend. He’s supposed to keep his eyes on the puck—not her.
After three years of being a goalie in the minors, I finally get my NHL shot with the Boston Saints—only to have my marriage-obsessed parents show up with my ex-girlfriend.
Enter Audrey aspiring novelist, professional deflector of emotions, and owner of one (non-diabetic) judgmental cat. When she becomes my emergency fake girlfriend over dinner, it solves my ex problem and creates about seventeen new ones.
Now my mother is commenting on Audrey’s Instagram posts from the past decade, my hockey colleagues adore her hockey knowledge (“that’s totally a… hooking… thing!”), and I can't stop thinking about how she laughs at my game-day rituals.
While I’m finally getting NHL ice time, Audrey’s battling her unfinished novel and an ex she Instagram-stalks with Olympic-level dedication. We’re both playing defense against the same letting someone past our carefully constructed walls.
Just as Audrey’s sarcasm gives way to something real and I start picturing a future beyond my crease, the Saints offers me the starting position I’ve sacrificed everything for.
I was trained to stop the puck, to never let anything in—but for the first time in my life, I think I might let this one through.
Play Along With Me is a fake dating NHL hockey romcom. It is a perfect palette cleanser book with no third act breakup. It can be read as a standalone and has a happy ever after.
After three years of being a goalie in the minors, I finally get my NHL shot with the Boston Saints—only to have my marriage-obsessed parents show up with my ex-girlfriend.
Enter Audrey aspiring novelist, professional deflector of emotions, and owner of one (non-diabetic) judgmental cat. When she becomes my emergency fake girlfriend over dinner, it solves my ex problem and creates about seventeen new ones.
Now my mother is commenting on Audrey’s Instagram posts from the past decade, my hockey colleagues adore her hockey knowledge (“that’s totally a… hooking… thing!”), and I can't stop thinking about how she laughs at my game-day rituals.
While I’m finally getting NHL ice time, Audrey’s battling her unfinished novel and an ex she Instagram-stalks with Olympic-level dedication. We’re both playing defense against the same letting someone past our carefully constructed walls.
Just as Audrey’s sarcasm gives way to something real and I start picturing a future beyond my crease, the Saints offers me the starting position I’ve sacrificed everything for.
I was trained to stop the puck, to never let anything in—but for the first time in my life, I think I might let this one through.
Play Along With Me is a fake dating NHL hockey romcom. It is a perfect palette cleanser book with no third act breakup. It can be read as a standalone and has a happy ever after.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2025
149 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Kate Olivia
30 books83 followersKate Olivia writes steamy sports romance featuring irresistible bad boys and charming cinnamon rolls who score their way to love.
With sizzling spice and guaranteed happily ever afters, her stories range from humorous to deliciously dark.
Hit that follow button to catch every new release!
With sizzling spice and guaranteed happily ever afters, her stories range from humorous to deliciously dark.
Hit that follow button to catch every new release!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 9, 2025
Surprisingly Refreshing. Full of humor and wisdom.
This is not your average hockey romance. This is a refreshing take on a fake dating scenario that is absolutely hilarious and not a copy and paste of standard hockey life. This is before fame and fortune. These are two meet in unexpected ways and find themselves drawn to each other in transitional times. They are both trying to find a new path and somehow find themselves at an intersection. Unlikely friendships lead them into a fake dating arrangement that becomes several days of parental inquiry and improvised stories. There's non-stop laughter and witty banter.
Definitely a great story that I can't recommend enough.
This is not your average hockey romance. This is a refreshing take on a fake dating scenario that is absolutely hilarious and not a copy and paste of standard hockey life. This is before fame and fortune. These are two meet in unexpected ways and find themselves drawn to each other in transitional times. They are both trying to find a new path and somehow find themselves at an intersection. Unlikely friendships lead them into a fake dating arrangement that becomes several days of parental inquiry and improvised stories. There's non-stop laughter and witty banter.
Definitely a great story that I can't recommend enough.
March 19, 2025
Solid win
Jake's relationship with his mother is the reason for this book being only 4 stars, and that should really say something. Audrey and Jake are really great main characters - imperfect but still smart, capable and hilarious. The side characters are (mostly) well written and likeable. Even Patricia, who makes me want to stuff a sock in it, is an ok overenthusiastic Mom. The story is interesting, funny, and well paced. If I didn't want to shake Jake and tell him to cut the cord & grow a pair, it would have been perfect.
Jake's relationship with his mother is the reason for this book being only 4 stars, and that should really say something. Audrey and Jake are really great main characters - imperfect but still smart, capable and hilarious. The side characters are (mostly) well written and likeable. Even Patricia, who makes me want to stuff a sock in it, is an ok overenthusiastic Mom. The story is interesting, funny, and well paced. If I didn't want to shake Jake and tell him to cut the cord & grow a pair, it would have been perfect.
May 27, 2025
Comical and light
It was a bit too slow for my taste, but overall it was sweet. I really liked her humor. Overall comical.
It was a bit too slow for my taste, but overall it was sweet. I really liked her humor. Overall comical.
August 21, 2025
1.5 stars. So much ‘humor’ that was SO unfunny. Blathering FMC that kept doing/saying stupid sh*t. Why TF did she go to her ex’s wedding?!? Why lie about a diabetic cat??? Just dumb stuff.
September 23, 2025
Such a sweet story.
As a woman who has read past books by Kate Olivia, all with brutal, strong, know what they want and get it, this one was surprisingly sweet.
I laughed so hard and so much reading this book. What a delight. Audrey's sarcasm and humor was amazing. The stories they made up were crazy funny. Jake and Audrey were great.
Jake's mother was a total nut burger. How Jake survived growing up with her is incredible. His father's live for her, despite her antics is beautiful. The enthusiasm she has for her son and his life is the sweetest, unhinged love I've witnessed in a while.
It may have started out fake, but chemistry, A sense of humor, and dedication towards each other is the perfect formula for love.
Jake is my second favorite MMC. (Of course Grayson is #1) If you love sarcastic humor, this one delivers.
As a woman who has read past books by Kate Olivia, all with brutal, strong, know what they want and get it, this one was surprisingly sweet.
I laughed so hard and so much reading this book. What a delight. Audrey's sarcasm and humor was amazing. The stories they made up were crazy funny. Jake and Audrey were great.
Jake's mother was a total nut burger. How Jake survived growing up with her is incredible. His father's live for her, despite her antics is beautiful. The enthusiasm she has for her son and his life is the sweetest, unhinged love I've witnessed in a while.
It may have started out fake, but chemistry, A sense of humor, and dedication towards each other is the perfect formula for love.
Jake is my second favorite MMC. (Of course Grayson is #1) If you love sarcastic humor, this one delivers.
December 1, 2025
Laughed so hard..
I laughed throughout this whole book. The authors wit for these characters, especially Aubrey was just spot on for this book. If you love funny fake dating this book is for you. It wasn't perfect but had the best humor for a hockey book. RECOMMEND to 17 yrs and up. Family, Friends, Relationship problems and Love..does have swearing and sex...
I laughed throughout this whole book. The authors wit for these characters, especially Aubrey was just spot on for this book. If you love funny fake dating this book is for you. It wasn't perfect but had the best humor for a hockey book. RECOMMEND to 17 yrs and up. Family, Friends, Relationship problems and Love..does have swearing and sex...
January 11, 2026
Decent story, too many inconsistencies.
The story was cute, characters okay. The reliance on the FMC had on using comedy as a crutch became tiresome after awhile. Lots of inconsistencies showing better editing would have been beneficial.
The story was cute, characters okay. The reliance on the FMC had on using comedy as a crutch became tiresome after awhile. Lots of inconsistencies showing better editing would have been beneficial.
January 19, 2026
Pretty enjoyable. Liked all the characters. Mom was a bit much but that was the point of her.
Some errors to be fixed in editing. Pretty sure Marcos and Marcus are supposed to be same person but typos.
Some errors to be fixed in editing. Pretty sure Marcos and Marcus are supposed to be same person but typos.
dnf
January 23, 2026DNF at 49%
No rating.
Too slow paced. Weird storyline. They made Audrey act so ridiculously. You can be socially awkward without being ridiculous. Like going to her ex’s wedding. And the crazy stuff with meeting Jake’s parents. Too much cringe factor. No thanks.
No rating.
Too slow paced. Weird storyline. They made Audrey act so ridiculously. You can be socially awkward without being ridiculous. Like going to her ex’s wedding. And the crazy stuff with meeting Jake’s parents. Too much cringe factor. No thanks.
March 24, 2025
read it
I absolutely love Aubrey! One of the best characters ever in a book. Her quick whit and vocabulary is excellent. Very funny read.
I absolutely love Aubrey! One of the best characters ever in a book. Her quick whit and vocabulary is excellent. Very funny read.
April 13, 2025
The humor in this book was great. I kept stopping to share quotes. I laughed out loud. The fake/real dating was done well. I enjoyed how Audrey was portrayed throughout.
May 10, 2025
Cute, but just ok. Good knowledge of hockey, though!
May 25, 2025
short and sweet! love a good goalie book!
June 8, 2025
the beginning was a little plodding.
June 17, 2025
I loved Audrey! Very entertaining read and found myself giggling and laughing along. Definitely recommend for a fun quick read!
June 30, 2025
so much fun! perfect mix of hockey, humor, quirky heroine, cat, and chaos!
dnf
July 4, 2025DNF’d @19%
I love a good slow burn, but the characters have only interacted twice in the first 100 pages. There’s no burn at all, not even a lot match at this point.
I love a good slow burn, but the characters have only interacted twice in the first 100 pages. There’s no burn at all, not even a lot match at this point.
June 5, 2025
I did enjoy this, especially Audrey. I was into the texts and the humor. I got impatient though... waiting for some sexual chemistry. It was almost 70% through the book until they kissed. So when they finally got physical, I wasn't really buying it. I guess I prefer more desperately "need you" moments.
April 18, 2025
She literally put in her blurb that this is like a palate cleanser and she was absolutely correct. This is such a meet-cute and loved every moment of it. No redflag renegades in here and after all the ones I've read (I'm looking at you Grey, Knox, and Matt) this felt like a classic fake boyfriend meeting at the right place, right time. Honestly though, Audrey is so hilarious and I think that's what made me love this book more. Her sarcasm and wit with Jake's mom (or against her) just gives this such a Hallmark vibe with a little of spice. love it.
May 27, 2025
This was cute and funny, a quick read!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews