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Campus Crush
Of all the guys to walk in looking for a tutor, did it have to be Foster Kane?
I’ve avoided him like the plague since our one night together freshman year turned into the world’s most humiliating disaster—followed by the worst year of my life.
It wasn’t hard. I’m practically invisible on campus, while he’s the golden boy of the hockey team—popular, charming, and constantly surrounded by adoring fans.
But avoiding him stops being an option when I’m assigned to be his math tutor.
Now I’m stuck spending hours each week with the guy who once made me feel like nothing…and suddenly won’t stop looking at me like I mean something.
The only thing getting me through is Bear—my anonymous online friend. He’s kind. Funny. Safe. We met on a Stardew Valley server and clicked instantly. I’ve never even seen his face, but talking to him feels like breathing.
He’s the only guy I trust.
Which is why it hurts like hell when I find out he’s been lying to me.
Because Bear… is Foster.
And I don’t know if I can ever forgive him.
Campus Crush is a steamy college hockey romance with gaming banter, hidden identities, and a cinnamon roll hockey player who’s determined to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance. It is the first book in the CFU Hockey series.
I’ve avoided him like the plague since our one night together freshman year turned into the world’s most humiliating disaster—followed by the worst year of my life.
It wasn’t hard. I’m practically invisible on campus, while he’s the golden boy of the hockey team—popular, charming, and constantly surrounded by adoring fans.
But avoiding him stops being an option when I’m assigned to be his math tutor.
Now I’m stuck spending hours each week with the guy who once made me feel like nothing…and suddenly won’t stop looking at me like I mean something.
The only thing getting me through is Bear—my anonymous online friend. He’s kind. Funny. Safe. We met on a Stardew Valley server and clicked instantly. I’ve never even seen his face, but talking to him feels like breathing.
He’s the only guy I trust.
Which is why it hurts like hell when I find out he’s been lying to me.
Because Bear… is Foster.
And I don’t know if I can ever forgive him.
Campus Crush is a steamy college hockey romance with gaming banter, hidden identities, and a cinnamon roll hockey player who’s determined to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance. It is the first book in the CFU Hockey series.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
337 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Cadence Keys
30 books221 followersCadence Keys writes steamy contemporary sports romances about complex alpha males and the women who love them. She loves football, coffee, and watching Gilmore Girl marathons. She has been writing for almost a decade, but only recently got the gumption to really do something with her work. She looks forward to publishing many more novels, specifically her LA Wolves series.
You can also find more information about all future releases at www.cadencekeysauthor.com/
You can also find more information about all future releases at www.cadencekeysauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
November 16, 2025
**DUET NARRATION**
Virtual to Reality
This is so incredibly sweet. Don't get me wrong, Abby (PeachyKeen) Walker and Foster (BigBear88) Kane have super chemistry that is definitely hot, but their burgeoning relationship is tender and innocent initially. Even their early makeout sessions are cute in their exploratory ways.
Most days, I didn’t mind being invisible. It was safer than being truly seen.
-- Abby Walker
We get to see pretty early that each has insecurities and demons to face. Even when they're unaware of who's on the other end of their DMs, they manage to help each other through life's bumps. I love the conflict that brews around their identities and how it's addressed.
Abby Walker didn’t know it yet, but I was about to woo the shit out of her.
-- Foster Kane
There are tragic events that are absolutely heartbreaking. Having tissues handy is recommended. 😭🤧 I love the support that's created in the midst of everything and how they show up for big and little things. 🤗😍
Sadly, Foster's dad balances the scale in the wrong direction. He's a complete douche bag (db). A real, major-league jack@$$. That whole situation blows. His mom...? I can't even with her.
I read along with the audio book. The narrators, Christian Fox and Celia Stone, are in duet and perfect choices for these characters. I loved listening to them. 🎧♥️🎧
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x
H & h = 21
October 28, 2025
ARC/ALC review!
4.5 stars rounded up!
The narrators for this absolutely crushed it!! I was hooked and laughing from the first line!!
This was a fun, hockey, romcom with some spice and added emotion I wasn’t expecting!! I absolutely fell in love with these characters!! Foster is the hockey player that Abby has been crushing on. Abby works at the tutor center and guess who needs tutoring 🙈 yeppp, nothing like a forced proximity scenario with your college crush!! This book had me so captivated and I absolutely adored the family dynamic & found family in this one!! Parts of this had me tearing up, while others had me blushing!! What a perfectly done romance!! Literally running to my friends to rave about this book!I cannot wait for more from this author!!
Thank you Cadence Keys for this early copy opportunity!!
4.5 stars rounded up!
The narrators for this absolutely crushed it!! I was hooked and laughing from the first line!!
This was a fun, hockey, romcom with some spice and added emotion I wasn’t expecting!! I absolutely fell in love with these characters!! Foster is the hockey player that Abby has been crushing on. Abby works at the tutor center and guess who needs tutoring 🙈 yeppp, nothing like a forced proximity scenario with your college crush!! This book had me so captivated and I absolutely adored the family dynamic & found family in this one!! Parts of this had me tearing up, while others had me blushing!! What a perfectly done romance!! Literally running to my friends to rave about this book!I cannot wait for more from this author!!
Thank you Cadence Keys for this early copy opportunity!!
October 25, 2025
Thank you to Cadence Keys and team for allowing me to be an early reader with an ARC!
I thought this book was sugar sweet. It really dives into grief and emotional trauma and figuring out how to rebuild after. I thought that Foster and Abby’s relationship was great, he’s an adorable golden retriever type boyfriend, loved the found family aspect. The writing was impeccable- flowed well, story was well paced and easy to read.
I don’t think I was in the right headspace for this book at this moment in time, but overall I would absolutely recommend it for anyone who’s looking for a sweet love story in some pages
I thought this book was sugar sweet. It really dives into grief and emotional trauma and figuring out how to rebuild after. I thought that Foster and Abby’s relationship was great, he’s an adorable golden retriever type boyfriend, loved the found family aspect. The writing was impeccable- flowed well, story was well paced and easy to read.
I don’t think I was in the right headspace for this book at this moment in time, but overall I would absolutely recommend it for anyone who’s looking for a sweet love story in some pages
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2025
ALC REVIEW
The narrators knocked this out of the park. This is a romcom that keeps you wanting to come back for more. We love a man that stands up for what he wants and will stand up for his girl too. Foster integrating his life into Abby’s to support her is the best found family trope I’ve read in a while. The author did her research on the hockey lingo which made the book flow.
Narration- 4 stars
Book- 4 stars
Spice- 3.5 stars
The narrators knocked this out of the park. This is a romcom that keeps you wanting to come back for more. We love a man that stands up for what he wants and will stand up for his girl too. Foster integrating his life into Abby’s to support her is the best found family trope I’ve read in a while. The author did her research on the hockey lingo which made the book flow.
Narration- 4 stars
Book- 4 stars
Spice- 3.5 stars
October 24, 2025
If you like hockey romances, found family, a golden retriever boyfriend, and cute love story this one is for you.
Abby our FMC while navigating college, and dealing with what she feels is the most embarrassing moment with the cute hockey guy she had been crushing on that really tanks her confidence, she ends up tragically losing her mother. She'd already lost her father which left her grandma as the new guardian of her and her brother.
Through this online game that Abby used to escape her grief she meets this other user, "Bear". He becomes her comfort and her friend.
Foster "Kandy" Kane as his teammates call him is our MMC. Popular, hockey captain, seen as good at everything, is failing math. Numbers aren't his strong suit. Luckily for him with the reassurance from his friend "peach" he refuses to fail and rolls into the tutoring center where he is paired up with Abby.
Abby immediately is unhappy to tutor the man who humiliated her, except he doesn't remember but has this draw to her.
Foster quickly vows to woo her over once she tells him about how bad he fumbled it in their first encounter.
Foster is absolutely book boyfriend material. Their relationship is cute and he's so patient with her. Watching her become more confident in herself and realize she doesn't have to navigate it all alone.
Tragedy & grief aren't finished with Abby but Foster never leaves her side despite his father's persistent distaste of their relationship.
I also loved the found family aspect in this book, seeing all the guys in the hockey house rally around the main characters without hesitation was so sweet. It also sets up perfectly for the next books in the series cause I need to know all about these guys.
I can only hope we yet little snippets of A & F and what life continues to look like for them.
Also I loved the duet narration in the audiobook- it's the best way to be immersed in the story and Celia Stone & Christan Fox did such a great job with the characters and bringing them to life.
Abby our FMC while navigating college, and dealing with what she feels is the most embarrassing moment with the cute hockey guy she had been crushing on that really tanks her confidence, she ends up tragically losing her mother. She'd already lost her father which left her grandma as the new guardian of her and her brother.
Through this online game that Abby used to escape her grief she meets this other user, "Bear". He becomes her comfort and her friend.
Foster "Kandy" Kane as his teammates call him is our MMC. Popular, hockey captain, seen as good at everything, is failing math. Numbers aren't his strong suit. Luckily for him with the reassurance from his friend "peach" he refuses to fail and rolls into the tutoring center where he is paired up with Abby.
Abby immediately is unhappy to tutor the man who humiliated her, except he doesn't remember but has this draw to her.
Foster quickly vows to woo her over once she tells him about how bad he fumbled it in their first encounter.
Foster is absolutely book boyfriend material. Their relationship is cute and he's so patient with her. Watching her become more confident in herself and realize she doesn't have to navigate it all alone.
Tragedy & grief aren't finished with Abby but Foster never leaves her side despite his father's persistent distaste of their relationship.
I also loved the found family aspect in this book, seeing all the guys in the hockey house rally around the main characters without hesitation was so sweet. It also sets up perfectly for the next books in the series cause I need to know all about these guys.
I can only hope we yet little snippets of A & F and what life continues to look like for them.
Also I loved the duet narration in the audiobook- it's the best way to be immersed in the story and Celia Stone & Christan Fox did such a great job with the characters and bringing them to life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
Not going to lie, I was dubious going into this based on the spoiler in the blurb alone - buuuut I was still willing to give this a chance, because the movie this book is based on is one I happen to enjoy, AND so many book blurbs are starting to spoil stuff these days, I sort of just resigned myself to dealing with it.
And let's be honest, the concept had fun potential. I love a good online love interest turned real world lover.
But the concept and the execution are two entirely separate things.
So let's get started with the review. I'm just gonna list my thoughts as I had them, because I don't know how else to communicate my feelings about this book.
1. Immediately, I didn't care for Abby. She's an upperclassman in college. Girl's sitting at 21ish. And she's never seen a penis. Not in real life, not in films, not in school, not because she got curious and googled one.
In 2025, that is SO UNBELIEVEABLY UNREALISTIC I about noped out of the book less than 7 paragraphs in.
She literally, literally describes herself as being about as knowledgeable about sex as a Victorian maiden.
🙄😒
Did you sleep through health class?
Because I was looking at diagrams of dicks in textbooks in 7th grade.
There is NO WAY, unless you were homeschooled in an off-the-grid French Convent, that one wouldn't have ANY idea about penises at the age of 21, while going to college in the year of our Lord 2025. I'm sorry. I just don't buy it.
She has this brief conversation with her sexually experienced roommate about why there's a dildo on their couch (a big, blue one, which Abby only HOPES is not true to size. 😩🤦♀️) And when said roommate tells her that she was teaching another friend (who's about to lose her v-card -sigh-) how to put on a condom, Abby can't even FATHOM why a GIRL should know how to do that.
There is being innocent, and then there's whatever this bullshit is.
I literally had to put this book down and do a lap around my house to give myself a pep-talk in order to keep going.
And I was not even 2 percent into the book yet.
2. Homegirl is so poorly socialized that she literally cannot speak to men. She's so painfully shy she has panic attacks at the very thought of existing in the same space with them. When the MMC walks into the same room as her in the library, she actually leaps up from her chair and runs to hide behind a bookshelf in a panic.
Again - how in THE HELL did she make it this far in her academic (and professional, since she's working 2 jobs to pay for college) career?
We learn fairly quickly that Foster and Abby had a run-in pretty early in their college life, and apparently they shared a 'bad kiss' that she's SO humiliated about she's been hiding from him ever since. And of course, she's at once sad and horribly humiliated that he doesn't recognize her whenever they share space in passing.
It's also pretty clear that their first interlude happened when he was intoxicated and he passed out mid make-out session and she took that as some personal affront and has been thinking she's just the most unlikeable girl human on planet earth ever since.
There's socially awkward, and then there's Abby.
2.5. In the beginning of this story, Abby only has a personality when she's online playing her videogames.
If reading her existing in the real world wasn't AGONY, this might have been cute. Because I get the movie reference. How when you're online and anonymous, you feel this freedom to be your authentic self. You end up opening up to somebody without fear of reprisal or humiliation because they don't know who you are.
THAT aspect of this story was pretty good. Abby the online persona was quite witty and funny and easy to read. Abby the human got on every single frayed nerve I possessed.
But unfortunately, this aspect of the story doesn't even really play a big role in the overall plot - their identities are revealed to one another by 35% of the way through the story. So the WHOLE mystery of who their online personas are is over before the story even really gets going.
3. Of course Abby is afraid of curse words. So we get pelted with gems like this: Suck a lemon drop. 😒
4. I enjoy disability rep in stories. So when we first meet Foster and learn he's got dyslexia and is struggling with math I was charmed. Unfortunately, I don't think the representation is handled well beyond this initial point. Because after we first encounter this issue with Foster it disappears pretty quickly afterwards and is never mentioned again. Does he still have dyslexia (or whatever the version is for numbers) at the end of the story? The world may never know.
5. We're being told the same stuff over and over again. Abby's POV is not only irritating, it's also boring. I got it girl, you feel how you feel about the guy. You don't need to keep telling me in every single chapter. And speaking of telling - this book tells us quite a lot, but doesn't really bother showing us much at all. This FMC was already going to be a tough sell for me - but when I don't feel close to her on top of that? Yeah, this isn't happening.
6. So, this book deals a lot with the MC's separate insecurities. At first, this was something that attracted me to the story. Because I get it. I've been that online friend. I've been the gamer who only knows people by a screenname.
And I've also dealt with academic failures due to dyslexia.
And obviously, we've all been inexperienced in relationships at one point or another in our lives.
ALL of that is relatable.
The issue is that none of the insecurities that get brought up over the course of the story really get resolved in any meaningful way. We're just TOLD they're gone, or - worse - they just disappear never to be spoken about again. Or they take only a paragraph or two to solve a problem that could have been deep-dived into to give us a close bond with the characters.
IF this had been done well, I think it would have gone a long way to redeeming my initial dislike of this story and of Abby. Alas.
7. Obviously, this book isn't merely about a secret online friendship turned real-life lovers situation. There's some hard-hitting stuff that crops up throughout the story. The topic of grief and healing is good - and I think Keys made a good attempt at depicting it. I DID enjoy watching Abby and Foster grow closer outside the bedroom when things go sideways in their lives. Unfortunately for me, it sort of felt like some of it came out of nowhere and I couldn't get the image of the author spinning a wheel to try and find a plot for the second half of this story.
8. The hockey team found-family vibes are something I typically live for. And I'll be honest, they mostly saved this whole story for me. It might not be my favorite of all of the hockey team family situations I've ever read, but I will give Keys her flowers for this aspect of the story.
9. The spice. It's inevitable, I have to talk about it.
I honestly felt like I was reading two 15 year olds figuring out sex for the first time (even if Foster is experienced). The tentative touches and shy groping. Them constantly being interrupted by their friends and roommates to the point I genuinely thought Abby might die of humiliation...
That inevitable overly-perfect, orchestrated within an inch of its life first time that nearly killed me.
It's all very sweet, sure. But it also made me feel squirmy because the way it's written, these characters felt like actual children. Foster said all the right things. Did all the right things. He was patient and attentive with Abby and then, eventually, he was dirty with her after I guess she'd gained enough experience in the bedroom.
All of it threatened to give me IBS.
It was supposed to be hot. It really just made me want to shower.
So! In the end, I really just don't think this was the book for me. I gotta be honest - the spoiler in the book's blurb is the least of this book's problems for me.
If I had to describe this book in a single word, it'd be ... saccharine. It's too sweet, too innocent. Too wholesome. To the point where it's just...unbelievable and at times, really uncomfortable.
If this book was YA or even middle grade and there was no spice, this would have probably been a 4 star read for me. The EMOTIONS, while completely over the top and most of the time way too cutesy to feel realistic, were well-written. The development of the relationship was also cutesy. Foster's got a little-boy feel to him with the way he talks to Abby. The way he communicates his emotions. I can't explain it - he's a man-written-by-a-woman in the extreme. To the point he doesn't feel like a MAN at all.
And Abby, well.
Overly infantile characters behaving like children is my biggest issue. Having to watch that same infantilized character get dicked down repeatedly? Vomit.
I'm not here for that.
There were things I did enjoy. The online aspect of Foster and Abby's communication was cute. The bromances were cute. The way Abby and Foster end up leaning into each other when life gets difficult was cute and sweet.
But man, the hyper-innocent virgin trope is not one I typically enjoy to begin with. Especially if it's in a modern-day contemporary romance. In 2025, given how sexual our media is, given how I'm pretty sure we ALL learn about the reproductive system at least once in school, it's just not realistic.
The FMC gave me the ick, legitimately, from page one. And the whole book suffered for it.
Add to that an MMC who's TOO perfect and always knows the right thing to say - hits every single cliche sweet note that's ever been played in a contemporary romance and a bunch of outside elements that are flash-in-the-pan moments of drama that don't really get the air-time they deserve and, well.
I'm certain this is one of those books some will just adore. Those who enjoy soft, sweet, perfect gentlemen and the innocent woman tropes will eat this up.
For me, I like my characters to feel a little more mature when they're in college screwing each other 6 ways to Sunday. 😒 I like my characters flawed, too.
Mostly, I just like it when books don't make me feel like I need a bath after reading them.
And let's be honest, the concept had fun potential. I love a good online love interest turned real world lover.
But the concept and the execution are two entirely separate things.
So let's get started with the review. I'm just gonna list my thoughts as I had them, because I don't know how else to communicate my feelings about this book.
1. Immediately, I didn't care for Abby. She's an upperclassman in college. Girl's sitting at 21ish. And she's never seen a penis. Not in real life, not in films, not in school, not because she got curious and googled one.
In 2025, that is SO UNBELIEVEABLY UNREALISTIC I about noped out of the book less than 7 paragraphs in.
She literally, literally describes herself as being about as knowledgeable about sex as a Victorian maiden.
🙄😒
Did you sleep through health class?
Because I was looking at diagrams of dicks in textbooks in 7th grade.
There is NO WAY, unless you were homeschooled in an off-the-grid French Convent, that one wouldn't have ANY idea about penises at the age of 21, while going to college in the year of our Lord 2025. I'm sorry. I just don't buy it.
She has this brief conversation with her sexually experienced roommate about why there's a dildo on their couch (a big, blue one, which Abby only HOPES is not true to size. 😩🤦♀️) And when said roommate tells her that she was teaching another friend (who's about to lose her v-card -sigh-) how to put on a condom, Abby can't even FATHOM why a GIRL should know how to do that.
There is being innocent, and then there's whatever this bullshit is.
I literally had to put this book down and do a lap around my house to give myself a pep-talk in order to keep going.
And I was not even 2 percent into the book yet.
2. Homegirl is so poorly socialized that she literally cannot speak to men. She's so painfully shy she has panic attacks at the very thought of existing in the same space with them. When the MMC walks into the same room as her in the library, she actually leaps up from her chair and runs to hide behind a bookshelf in a panic.
Again - how in THE HELL did she make it this far in her academic (and professional, since she's working 2 jobs to pay for college) career?
We learn fairly quickly that Foster and Abby had a run-in pretty early in their college life, and apparently they shared a 'bad kiss' that she's SO humiliated about she's been hiding from him ever since. And of course, she's at once sad and horribly humiliated that he doesn't recognize her whenever they share space in passing.
It's also pretty clear that their first interlude happened when he was intoxicated and he passed out mid make-out session and she took that as some personal affront and has been thinking she's just the most unlikeable girl human on planet earth ever since.
There's socially awkward, and then there's Abby.
2.5. In the beginning of this story, Abby only has a personality when she's online playing her videogames.
If reading her existing in the real world wasn't AGONY, this might have been cute. Because I get the movie reference. How when you're online and anonymous, you feel this freedom to be your authentic self. You end up opening up to somebody without fear of reprisal or humiliation because they don't know who you are.
THAT aspect of this story was pretty good. Abby the online persona was quite witty and funny and easy to read. Abby the human got on every single frayed nerve I possessed.
But unfortunately, this aspect of the story doesn't even really play a big role in the overall plot - their identities are revealed to one another by 35% of the way through the story. So the WHOLE mystery of who their online personas are is over before the story even really gets going.
3. Of course Abby is afraid of curse words. So we get pelted with gems like this: Suck a lemon drop. 😒
4. I enjoy disability rep in stories. So when we first meet Foster and learn he's got dyslexia and is struggling with math I was charmed. Unfortunately, I don't think the representation is handled well beyond this initial point. Because after we first encounter this issue with Foster it disappears pretty quickly afterwards and is never mentioned again. Does he still have dyslexia (or whatever the version is for numbers) at the end of the story? The world may never know.
5. We're being told the same stuff over and over again. Abby's POV is not only irritating, it's also boring. I got it girl, you feel how you feel about the guy. You don't need to keep telling me in every single chapter. And speaking of telling - this book tells us quite a lot, but doesn't really bother showing us much at all. This FMC was already going to be a tough sell for me - but when I don't feel close to her on top of that? Yeah, this isn't happening.
6. So, this book deals a lot with the MC's separate insecurities. At first, this was something that attracted me to the story. Because I get it. I've been that online friend. I've been the gamer who only knows people by a screenname.
And I've also dealt with academic failures due to dyslexia.
And obviously, we've all been inexperienced in relationships at one point or another in our lives.
ALL of that is relatable.
The issue is that none of the insecurities that get brought up over the course of the story really get resolved in any meaningful way. We're just TOLD they're gone, or - worse - they just disappear never to be spoken about again. Or they take only a paragraph or two to solve a problem that could have been deep-dived into to give us a close bond with the characters.
IF this had been done well, I think it would have gone a long way to redeeming my initial dislike of this story and of Abby. Alas.
7. Obviously, this book isn't merely about a secret online friendship turned real-life lovers situation. There's some hard-hitting stuff that crops up throughout the story. The topic of grief and healing is good - and I think Keys made a good attempt at depicting it. I DID enjoy watching Abby and Foster grow closer outside the bedroom when things go sideways in their lives. Unfortunately for me, it sort of felt like some of it came out of nowhere and I couldn't get the image of the author spinning a wheel to try and find a plot for the second half of this story.
8. The hockey team found-family vibes are something I typically live for. And I'll be honest, they mostly saved this whole story for me. It might not be my favorite of all of the hockey team family situations I've ever read, but I will give Keys her flowers for this aspect of the story.
9. The spice. It's inevitable, I have to talk about it.
I honestly felt like I was reading two 15 year olds figuring out sex for the first time (even if Foster is experienced). The tentative touches and shy groping. Them constantly being interrupted by their friends and roommates to the point I genuinely thought Abby might die of humiliation...
That inevitable overly-perfect, orchestrated within an inch of its life first time that nearly killed me.
It's all very sweet, sure. But it also made me feel squirmy because the way it's written, these characters felt like actual children. Foster said all the right things. Did all the right things. He was patient and attentive with Abby and then, eventually, he was dirty with her after I guess she'd gained enough experience in the bedroom.
All of it threatened to give me IBS.
It was supposed to be hot. It really just made me want to shower.
So! In the end, I really just don't think this was the book for me. I gotta be honest - the spoiler in the book's blurb is the least of this book's problems for me.
If I had to describe this book in a single word, it'd be ... saccharine. It's too sweet, too innocent. Too wholesome. To the point where it's just...unbelievable and at times, really uncomfortable.
If this book was YA or even middle grade and there was no spice, this would have probably been a 4 star read for me. The EMOTIONS, while completely over the top and most of the time way too cutesy to feel realistic, were well-written. The development of the relationship was also cutesy. Foster's got a little-boy feel to him with the way he talks to Abby. The way he communicates his emotions. I can't explain it - he's a man-written-by-a-woman in the extreme. To the point he doesn't feel like a MAN at all.
And Abby, well.
Overly infantile characters behaving like children is my biggest issue. Having to watch that same infantilized character get dicked down repeatedly? Vomit.
I'm not here for that.
There were things I did enjoy. The online aspect of Foster and Abby's communication was cute. The bromances were cute. The way Abby and Foster end up leaning into each other when life gets difficult was cute and sweet.
But man, the hyper-innocent virgin trope is not one I typically enjoy to begin with. Especially if it's in a modern-day contemporary romance. In 2025, given how sexual our media is, given how I'm pretty sure we ALL learn about the reproductive system at least once in school, it's just not realistic.
The FMC gave me the ick, legitimately, from page one. And the whole book suffered for it.
Add to that an MMC who's TOO perfect and always knows the right thing to say - hits every single cliche sweet note that's ever been played in a contemporary romance and a bunch of outside elements that are flash-in-the-pan moments of drama that don't really get the air-time they deserve and, well.
I'm certain this is one of those books some will just adore. Those who enjoy soft, sweet, perfect gentlemen and the innocent woman tropes will eat this up.
For me, I like my characters to feel a little more mature when they're in college screwing each other 6 ways to Sunday. 😒 I like my characters flawed, too.
Mostly, I just like it when books don't make me feel like I need a bath after reading them.
October 31, 2025
Took a break from drafting tonight to read an ARC I’ve been excited for. This hockey romance did not disappoint—Foster Kane was *chef’s kiss* book boyfriend material! Highly recommend if you love hockey, found family, yearning, he falls first (and hard), plus a little heart and angst with your swoons❤️
November 14, 2025
Too innocent for me. The core story is cute and I may finish at a later time but at 41% the FMC is laughably naive and innocent. Just not my thing. Reads more like YA IMO
December 2, 2025
Such a wonderful, heartfelt story of love, overcoming obstacles personally as well as together, and finding your person to learn that you don’t have to carry everything all alone. Abby and Foster’s story is nowhere near a fairytale full of happiness, sunshine, and rainbows. Indeed, there are several heavy moments within the novel that portray the harsh realities of life, realities of massive severity and weight taken on by such young souls including death of loved ones and familial betrayals. There is a great amount of character development throughout the novel and you get the pleasure of watching each of the main characters grow into wonderful young adults. I have so much pride in Foster’s development, especially when it comes to the decisions he is forced to make regarding his family and Abby. Decisions he shouldn’t have to make, but must, nonetheless. Despite all the heartache and loss experienced, this novel does a marvelous job at showcasing the magic and soul-strengthening support found family brings along with the fulfillment love can bring to life.
Favorite Quotes:
“Through the good times and the bad, I would prove that she was my person and I would always choose her.”
“You’re part of our tribe now. We’re here to help.”
“I never imagined we’d find a new kind of family – one we chose and who chose us back.”
“Home wasn’t a place. It was a group of people – our found family.”
Favorite Quotes:
“Through the good times and the bad, I would prove that she was my person and I would always choose her.”
“You’re part of our tribe now. We’re here to help.”
“I never imagined we’d find a new kind of family – one we chose and who chose us back.”
“Home wasn’t a place. It was a group of people – our found family.”
October 29, 2025
A round of applause for all who made this book come to life. I loved the NaLey vibes from one tree hill. I would like to put it out into the universe that a book with Liam in it and Christian Fox as the voice actor he mastered the Irish accent. this book was definitely swoon worthy. Foster was made up of everything a book boyfriend should be. He shows up doesn’t give up and thinks outside the box when trying to win Abby’s heart. I am so grateful I got to read this early release with the amazing narrators. cannot wait for what lies ahead in this series. Cadence keep writing five stars I will definitely be lining up for the next release in this found family journey!
October 28, 2025
Campus Crush by Cadence Keys. I received this book as an Arc review and I am glad I did. This is the first book I read by Cadence Keys and I loved it. This book was well written and it pulled me in right from page one. It made me laugh, cry and made my heart smile with the way Foster just adores Abby. I loved the hockey element (this being my first hockey romance as well). This book definitely takes you for an emotional ride, but I just love the authors way of pulling you right into the story. It definitely has a good spice level! This is a must read if you love spice, sports, ups and downs and an amazing HEA! I will definitely be going back to read the rest of Cadence Keys series.
November 3, 2025
I loved this book. It was an amazing read. The happiness I felt reading this book was amazing. The way Foster fought for Abby throughout was amazing. I loved their relationship. I also loved Abby’s bond with her brother. The writing was easy to read and I didn’t put the book down.
November 29, 2025
I thought this was a great book. the two characters were online anonymous friends while also knowing each other in real life before eventually figuring out they have been messaging each other. Foster was being tutored by Abby but they were also gaming friends. Overall it was a great read!
dnf
January 15, 2026The book was fine. I got interested in Stardew Valley and stopped reading to play it after getting hooked.
November 29, 2025
Firstly, Thank you Cadence for letting me be apart of your team!!
Nerd X Jock
Gaming Buddies
First Timer X Has had his fair share
Strangers X Friends X Lovers
I was able to both listen to and read this story. Let me tell you, I want to listen to more books that Christian Fox narrates. Anyways. This is a very cute, collegiate, first love story. I remember being Abby. The loner, the one people looked to for help on homework. So I related well to her. Foster, in my opinion, is the most golden retriever boyfriend, while also being a fierce protective man of what's his. The commitment he made into keeping her over losing his toxic family; chefs kiss. Abby relying heavily on him wasn't my favorite thing in the world but. I would have loved to see her grow more. The amount of side plots this story had was a little overwhelming in my opinion. I think some of them had way more potential than was given. Case in point, Fosters idiot dad. I think there could have been a broader picture there.
Other than that, this is a loving, funny as all get out (I laughed more than i probably should have), fun and fast little read/listen. Celia Stone and Christian Fox are phenomenal narrators. I could listen to them daily. The emotion they gave the book is just stunning.
I honestly cant wait for Cadence's next book! This was my first read of hers and I just know she will forever be in my TBR!
Nerd X Jock
Gaming Buddies
First Timer X Has had his fair share
Strangers X Friends X Lovers
I was able to both listen to and read this story. Let me tell you, I want to listen to more books that Christian Fox narrates. Anyways. This is a very cute, collegiate, first love story. I remember being Abby. The loner, the one people looked to for help on homework. So I related well to her. Foster, in my opinion, is the most golden retriever boyfriend, while also being a fierce protective man of what's his. The commitment he made into keeping her over losing his toxic family; chefs kiss. Abby relying heavily on him wasn't my favorite thing in the world but. I would have loved to see her grow more. The amount of side plots this story had was a little overwhelming in my opinion. I think some of them had way more potential than was given. Case in point, Fosters idiot dad. I think there could have been a broader picture there.
Other than that, this is a loving, funny as all get out (I laughed more than i probably should have), fun and fast little read/listen. Celia Stone and Christian Fox are phenomenal narrators. I could listen to them daily. The emotion they gave the book is just stunning.
I honestly cant wait for Cadence's next book! This was my first read of hers and I just know she will forever be in my TBR!
November 14, 2025
ARC Review
If you believe that blood doesn't make you family you need to read this book.
Abby has to get out of her own way to follow her heart and I was so thrilled to see that the book spent more time with their happiness instead of what ifs.
Foster is a rare breed when it comes to all of the things that he overcomes. The way that he stood up to his dad, stood up for Abby and Mason, and supported his team while trying to figure out how to support himself shows so much strength.
I love that the author wrote this story in a way with a happy ending and not a breakup for the storyline.
To all the OTH fans out there, I couldn't wait for the Hockey Bachelor Auction. I had almost given up that it would show up in the story because the book took a different but lovely approach. However, the ending showed up!
If you believe that blood doesn't make you family you need to read this book.
Abby has to get out of her own way to follow her heart and I was so thrilled to see that the book spent more time with their happiness instead of what ifs.
Foster is a rare breed when it comes to all of the things that he overcomes. The way that he stood up to his dad, stood up for Abby and Mason, and supported his team while trying to figure out how to support himself shows so much strength.
I love that the author wrote this story in a way with a happy ending and not a breakup for the storyline.
To all the OTH fans out there, I couldn't wait for the Hockey Bachelor Auction. I had almost given up that it would show up in the story because the book took a different but lovely approach. However, the ending showed up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
What a page turner. I could not put Abby and Foster’s story down. I’m a huge fan of hockey stories. What a journey I was on. It’s emotional, their chemistry is on fire, made my heart happy and it’s a beautifully written story. It has the perfect amount of drama, sexy times and tension. I loved the side characters, lots of banter and just perfect friendships. I absolutely loved Abby, she was a gorgeous lead character. Loved her spunk. Foster, he was a dreamy lead and I’m a sucker for a hockey player. He was such a charmer, romantic, patient and thoughtful guy. Can not wait for more from Cadence.
November 18, 2025
1⭐ 3.5🌶️
You know when you read a book that's so cute you can't stop giggling and kicking your feet. Well, this was not that. This was too cute, bordering on pure cringe.
If you're new to reading romance, this is perfect for you. It had all the cliches. If you like your romance with an intriguing plot that'll both surprise you and make you cry, I do not recommend this one. It does not have it.
If you haven't noticed from the above, I struggled a lot with this one. I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes this much. Hockey romances are my thing, but this one did not impress me. The plot was basically just insecurities. Insecurities that we overcome in one paragraph. 🙃
It was extremely repetitive. Emotions and reactions were constantly repeated. As in "we get it. Stop repeating how you feel - or don't feel - for him". It was also tell-not-show writing style, which I absolutely hate.
From the very beginning, we are told that if you can't do math, you're the problem.
Math is hard for a lot of people, but writing a story like this and saying that it's wrong to find math difficult, is fucking insane. I know, I know, "she's supposed to help him with his insecurities and make him overcome them". Maybe. But there were other ways to describe that. There were better ways to let us know that Foster was struggling. Also, did his dyscalculia just disappear? It was never mentioned again - back to the fact that none of their insecurities were actually dealt with...
I also hated the constant godcomplex this hockey team had. "We're hockey players, so we're fucking hot and everyone wants us. We can get any girl." It's fine to mention or hint at it once or twice, but not like this and not this often.
There were so many small things I couldn't deal with, that just made this book unbearable. Fx the cliches, the fast relationship that turned to love in a blink of an eye, the American version of a 17 yo being called a teenager and is treated like a 10 yo, the insane dad (what the actual fuck? Let's just add the most insane thing ever to create drama. Yeah, no.), and I could go on and on.
I do see why people love this book, and I absolutely love that for them. But to me, it was probably one of the worst books I've ever read. I hate saying that, but it's how I feel.
You know when you read a book that's so cute you can't stop giggling and kicking your feet. Well, this was not that. This was too cute, bordering on pure cringe.
If you're new to reading romance, this is perfect for you. It had all the cliches. If you like your romance with an intriguing plot that'll both surprise you and make you cry, I do not recommend this one. It does not have it.
If you haven't noticed from the above, I struggled a lot with this one. I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes this much. Hockey romances are my thing, but this one did not impress me. The plot was basically just insecurities. Insecurities that we overcome in one paragraph. 🙃
It was extremely repetitive. Emotions and reactions were constantly repeated. As in "we get it. Stop repeating how you feel - or don't feel - for him". It was also tell-not-show writing style, which I absolutely hate.
From the very beginning, we are told that if you can't do math, you're the problem.
Math is hard for a lot of people, but writing a story like this and saying that it's wrong to find math difficult, is fucking insane. I know, I know, "she's supposed to help him with his insecurities and make him overcome them". Maybe. But there were other ways to describe that. There were better ways to let us know that Foster was struggling. Also, did his dyscalculia just disappear? It was never mentioned again - back to the fact that none of their insecurities were actually dealt with...
I also hated the constant godcomplex this hockey team had. "We're hockey players, so we're fucking hot and everyone wants us. We can get any girl." It's fine to mention or hint at it once or twice, but not like this and not this often.
There were so many small things I couldn't deal with, that just made this book unbearable. Fx the cliches, the fast relationship that turned to love in a blink of an eye, the American version of a 17 yo being called a teenager and is treated like a 10 yo, the insane dad (what the actual fuck? Let's just add the most insane thing ever to create drama. Yeah, no.), and I could go on and on.
I do see why people love this book, and I absolutely love that for them. But to me, it was probably one of the worst books I've ever read. I hate saying that, but it's how I feel.
December 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Abby and Foster made a great couple. Abby becomes Foster’s tutor and they grow close together. Foster won’t take no for an answer when he tries to pursue Abby. Foster has fallen hard for her and it is very swoon worthy!!
This book doesn’t stay at the top level of their relationship but it takes a deep dive into some strong emotions and relationships that need to be dealt with. Also, the found family aspect is so good and really helps make this a great story.
The audiobook is a great compliment to this story. The narrators did a fantastic job in bringing this story to life. They brought the emotions throughout the entire story.
Thank you to the author for the ALC. Looking forward to the next one in the series!!
This book doesn’t stay at the top level of their relationship but it takes a deep dive into some strong emotions and relationships that need to be dealt with. Also, the found family aspect is so good and really helps make this a great story.
The audiobook is a great compliment to this story. The narrators did a fantastic job in bringing this story to life. They brought the emotions throughout the entire story.
Thank you to the author for the ALC. Looking forward to the next one in the series!!
November 14, 2025
I don’t read college romance often, but I love the tutor/jock dynamic - it always gives me She’s All That vibes (one of my all-time favorite movies). And I really love this one, and Abby and Foster! He was so open and honest with her, and it is so refreshing. This story is the perfect blend of low angst sweetness, emotion and tug at your heartstrings moments, humor, and drama. The side characters and found family were the best too. I am excited to see what the rest of this series brings.
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
Narrated by Christian Fox and Celia Stone - Christian was the main reason I wanted to listen to this audiobook - he is one of my favorites! Celia is new to me and I cannot wait to hear more of her work! They both did a fantastic job portraying these characters, and I loved their voices paired together in duet!
Produced by Lyric Audiobooks 👏🏼👏🏼
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
College romance
He plays hockey
She’s his tutor
Opposites attract
Mistaken identities
Woman in STEM
Forced proximity
Found family
Dual POV
Spice
🎙️𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 ⇣
Narrated by Christian Fox and Celia Stone - Christian was the main reason I wanted to listen to this audiobook - he is one of my favorites! Celia is new to me and I cannot wait to hear more of her work! They both did a fantastic job portraying these characters, and I loved their voices paired together in duet!
Produced by Lyric Audiobooks 👏🏼👏🏼
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
College romance
He plays hockey
She’s his tutor
Opposites attract
Mistaken identities
Woman in STEM
Forced proximity
Found family
Dual POV
Spice
October 30, 2025
Cadence Keys’ Campus Crush is an emotional and heartwarming college hockey romance that balances sweetness, heartbreak, and healing in equal measure. It’s a story about second chances, anonymous friendship, and finding love again with the one person you thought you could never trust. With sharp banter, emotional depth, and just the right amount of angst, this first book in the CFU Hockey series sets the tone for what promises to be an addictive world.
This was my first book by Cadence Keys, and I was completely pulled in. The pacing, the emotional buildup, and the duality between online connection and real-life chemistry worked perfectly. Keys blends vulnerability and charm in a way that makes this story feel both youthful and deeply emotional.
The Story
Abby is quiet, introverted, and still carrying the weight of heartbreak from her freshman year the same year she had one disastrous night with Foster Kane, the campus golden boy and star of the hockey team. Since then, she’s done everything she can to avoid him. But when she’s assigned to be his tutor, avoiding him is no longer an option.
Foster is the classic charming athlete with a twist. Beneath the confidence lies regret, patience, and a genuine desire to make things right. His chemistry with Abby is electric, but what makes their story shine is the emotional vulnerability beneath the surface. The hidden identity twist Abby’s online best friend “Bear” turning out to be Foster is handled so well, adding depth and heartbreak to their journey.
The emotional moments hit hard, especially as Abby faces devastating personal losses. Her strength, paired with Foster’s quiet devotion, creates a love story that feels earned and deeply moving.
🎧 Narration
Narrated in duet by Christian Fox and Celia Stone, this audiobook was an absolute treat. Their performances brought Abby and Foster vividly to life Celia perfectly captured Abby’s quiet resilience and emotional turmoil, while Christian’s tone added warmth and sincerity to Foster’s character. The emotional beats, the banter, and the tension all felt genuine thanks to their stellar delivery.
What I Loved
✔️ Beautiful balance of grief, healing, and second chances
✔️ The online friendship twist heartbreaking and brilliant
✔️ Foster’s soft, patient, supportive energy
✔️ Deep emotional scenes that hit hard but feel cathartic
✔️ Abby’s growth from heartbroken to hopeful
✔️ Found family and genuine friendships within the hockey world
Tropes & Vibes
✔️ College Hockey Romance
✔️ Hidden Identity / Online Friendship
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Gamer Girl x Golden Boy
✔️ Emotional Healing
✔️ Forced Proximity (Tutor x Student)
✔️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
Final Thoughts
Campus Crush is heartfelt, tender, and full of emotion. Cadence Keys delivers a love story that’s as much about forgiveness and personal growth as it is about romance. It’s that perfect mix of angst, sweetness, and emotional connection that lingers long after the final chapter.
If you love college romance, secret identities, and soft heroes who love hard, Campus Crush deserves a top spot on your TBR. It made me tear up, smile, and believe in second chances all over again.
This was my first book by Cadence Keys, and I was completely pulled in. The pacing, the emotional buildup, and the duality between online connection and real-life chemistry worked perfectly. Keys blends vulnerability and charm in a way that makes this story feel both youthful and deeply emotional.
The Story
Abby is quiet, introverted, and still carrying the weight of heartbreak from her freshman year the same year she had one disastrous night with Foster Kane, the campus golden boy and star of the hockey team. Since then, she’s done everything she can to avoid him. But when she’s assigned to be his tutor, avoiding him is no longer an option.
Foster is the classic charming athlete with a twist. Beneath the confidence lies regret, patience, and a genuine desire to make things right. His chemistry with Abby is electric, but what makes their story shine is the emotional vulnerability beneath the surface. The hidden identity twist Abby’s online best friend “Bear” turning out to be Foster is handled so well, adding depth and heartbreak to their journey.
The emotional moments hit hard, especially as Abby faces devastating personal losses. Her strength, paired with Foster’s quiet devotion, creates a love story that feels earned and deeply moving.
🎧 Narration
Narrated in duet by Christian Fox and Celia Stone, this audiobook was an absolute treat. Their performances brought Abby and Foster vividly to life Celia perfectly captured Abby’s quiet resilience and emotional turmoil, while Christian’s tone added warmth and sincerity to Foster’s character. The emotional beats, the banter, and the tension all felt genuine thanks to their stellar delivery.
What I Loved
✔️ Beautiful balance of grief, healing, and second chances
✔️ The online friendship twist heartbreaking and brilliant
✔️ Foster’s soft, patient, supportive energy
✔️ Deep emotional scenes that hit hard but feel cathartic
✔️ Abby’s growth from heartbroken to hopeful
✔️ Found family and genuine friendships within the hockey world
Tropes & Vibes
✔️ College Hockey Romance
✔️ Hidden Identity / Online Friendship
✔️ Second Chance
✔️ Gamer Girl x Golden Boy
✔️ Emotional Healing
✔️ Forced Proximity (Tutor x Student)
✔️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
Final Thoughts
Campus Crush is heartfelt, tender, and full of emotion. Cadence Keys delivers a love story that’s as much about forgiveness and personal growth as it is about romance. It’s that perfect mix of angst, sweetness, and emotional connection that lingers long after the final chapter.
If you love college romance, secret identities, and soft heroes who love hard, Campus Crush deserves a top spot on your TBR. It made me tear up, smile, and believe in second chances all over again.
December 1, 2025
4.5 Stars
While I like to read darker romances a lot, sometimes I like something a bit lighter and a bit sweeter. Technically, this could be labeled as a sports romance because the MMC is a hockey player, but it fits better to call this a college romance. This is a great example of miscommunication, of being dumb and reckless in your youth, of second chances, and how people aren’t always what the portray to the world. My favorite thing about Abby was what she said about math. It is a statement I say all of the time because I am a math person but to me, math just makes sense. When I heard that I just had to smile. I really felt for Foster though because I have been there, where there are so many expectations for you to succeed and be the best, but you are suffering with a learning disability. These two characters were two that I really fell in love with. Especially, their connection because of the online game. Their discord chats were who they really are, and you couldn’t help but love them. This book was mostly sweet but also included some hurt and trauma that both main characters dealt with in their own lives. It gave depth to the characters and background to why they acted the way they did.
The narrators of this audiobook had perfect voices for these two characters. Celia Stone was able to bring to life the nerdy and slightly sheltered (by her own choosing) Abby. You could hear the girl that had been crushed in her youth and how she didn’t trust the man she had once obsessed over. Christian Fox had such a smooth voice that gave me the perfect picture of the man that was everything to everyone on campus but had so much put on him by his family that he had to hide himself so he never disappointed anyone.
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was sweet and easy but also had a touch of hurt and pain so that the characters seemed real. As a math dork, I loved Abby and her approach to tutoring. The online alter egos gave us a look at the real people behind the masks that they wore in their every day lives. There was spice in this book and even though it took a bit to get there, it was well worth the wait. I just really felt that these characters were two that you could connect with and it was a book worth reading.
While I like to read darker romances a lot, sometimes I like something a bit lighter and a bit sweeter. Technically, this could be labeled as a sports romance because the MMC is a hockey player, but it fits better to call this a college romance. This is a great example of miscommunication, of being dumb and reckless in your youth, of second chances, and how people aren’t always what the portray to the world. My favorite thing about Abby was what she said about math. It is a statement I say all of the time because I am a math person but to me, math just makes sense. When I heard that I just had to smile. I really felt for Foster though because I have been there, where there are so many expectations for you to succeed and be the best, but you are suffering with a learning disability. These two characters were two that I really fell in love with. Especially, their connection because of the online game. Their discord chats were who they really are, and you couldn’t help but love them. This book was mostly sweet but also included some hurt and trauma that both main characters dealt with in their own lives. It gave depth to the characters and background to why they acted the way they did.
The narrators of this audiobook had perfect voices for these two characters. Celia Stone was able to bring to life the nerdy and slightly sheltered (by her own choosing) Abby. You could hear the girl that had been crushed in her youth and how she didn’t trust the man she had once obsessed over. Christian Fox had such a smooth voice that gave me the perfect picture of the man that was everything to everyone on campus but had so much put on him by his family that he had to hide himself so he never disappointed anyone.
I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was sweet and easy but also had a touch of hurt and pain so that the characters seemed real. As a math dork, I loved Abby and her approach to tutoring. The online alter egos gave us a look at the real people behind the masks that they wore in their every day lives. There was spice in this book and even though it took a bit to get there, it was well worth the wait. I just really felt that these characters were two that you could connect with and it was a book worth reading.
November 13, 2025
Ebook & Audiobook review:
I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and ALC of Campus Crush. I read the first half of the book and switched to audio to listen to the second half.
From the very first sentence I was laughing - such a fantastic opening to the story! I really enjoyed this - a sweet combination of romance, moderate spice well done, and humour mixed with some emotional moments and a lot of love - the tempo of the story is great and the story flows well.
I am not generally a big fan of audiobooks as I am sensitive to the narrators voice and sometimes struggle to absorb the story that way, but honestly the dual narrators in this book are some of the best I have heard - they sound great together, perfect amount of emotion and speed, was just as enjoyable as reading the written version for me which is a big deal!
There are some serious themes including grief and emotional abuse/manipulation but the author deals with them well, they are not too dark or serious and she gives enough emotion to them to feel it as a reader/listener without it bringing down the mood of the overall story too far or sending you on a crazy emotional rollercoaster - the overall feel of the book is positive and sweet and hopeful.
There is a build up to the typical trope of being manipulated by other characters for the "If you love them you'll let them go and not tell them why" twist but the characters go against the conventional trope angle which made me super happy (it's always nice to not want to smack the book characters you're reading about after all!).
Had a great laugh at the epilogue too, and it lines up for the next story in the series really well. Overall this is a medium length college/uni romance with a HEA and a great story with found family and plenty of humour mixed throughout. Definitely recommend!
I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and ALC of Campus Crush. I read the first half of the book and switched to audio to listen to the second half.
From the very first sentence I was laughing - such a fantastic opening to the story! I really enjoyed this - a sweet combination of romance, moderate spice well done, and humour mixed with some emotional moments and a lot of love - the tempo of the story is great and the story flows well.
I am not generally a big fan of audiobooks as I am sensitive to the narrators voice and sometimes struggle to absorb the story that way, but honestly the dual narrators in this book are some of the best I have heard - they sound great together, perfect amount of emotion and speed, was just as enjoyable as reading the written version for me which is a big deal!
There are some serious themes including grief and emotional abuse/manipulation but the author deals with them well, they are not too dark or serious and she gives enough emotion to them to feel it as a reader/listener without it bringing down the mood of the overall story too far or sending you on a crazy emotional rollercoaster - the overall feel of the book is positive and sweet and hopeful.
There is a build up to the typical trope of being manipulated by other characters for the "If you love them you'll let them go and not tell them why" twist but the characters go against the conventional trope angle which made me super happy (it's always nice to not want to smack the book characters you're reading about after all!).
Had a great laugh at the epilogue too, and it lines up for the next story in the series really well. Overall this is a medium length college/uni romance with a HEA and a great story with found family and plenty of humour mixed throughout. Definitely recommend!
November 27, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Campus Crush is a sweet college hockey romance. While it was an enjoyable read, nothing particularly stood out to me — except maybe the twist of having an MMC who isn’t aiming for a future in hockey. The sport sits more in the background, giving context to the story without ever taking center stage.
The opening is strong: Abbie and Foster are pushed into collaborating despite both having good reasons to avoid it. In parallel, we follow Peach and Bear, online gaming friends who don’t realize they’re connected in real life. I really enjoyed the tension of that slow reveal — the “when will they figure it out?” anticipation — and the emotional fallout when they finally do. Honestly, I thought that was going to be the main storyline, and I would have happily read an entire book about it.
As the narrative shifts, the tone changes quite a bit. The found family vibe is lovely, and the themes of grief and healing are heartfelt, but the romance between the main couple fades into the background. There aren’t many stakes or tension anymore — just two people navigating life during a difficult moment.
Both threads had the potential to shine on their own. If they’d had more space to grow and transition naturally, they could have complemented each other beautifully. Combined as they are, the book sometimes felt more like a collection of familiar romance beats, sprinkled with spicy scenes that didn’t always land with the emotional weight they could have had.
One thing that absolutely elevated the experience for me was the audiobook. The duet narration is fantastic — the narrators really bring the characters to life and add depth to moments that might have otherwise fallen flat on the page.
Overall, I’m glad I read it: it’s a gentle, easy romance with heartfelt moments, even if the story didn’t always fully click for me.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Campus Crush is a sweet college hockey romance. While it was an enjoyable read, nothing particularly stood out to me — except maybe the twist of having an MMC who isn’t aiming for a future in hockey. The sport sits more in the background, giving context to the story without ever taking center stage.
The opening is strong: Abbie and Foster are pushed into collaborating despite both having good reasons to avoid it. In parallel, we follow Peach and Bear, online gaming friends who don’t realize they’re connected in real life. I really enjoyed the tension of that slow reveal — the “when will they figure it out?” anticipation — and the emotional fallout when they finally do. Honestly, I thought that was going to be the main storyline, and I would have happily read an entire book about it.
As the narrative shifts, the tone changes quite a bit. The found family vibe is lovely, and the themes of grief and healing are heartfelt, but the romance between the main couple fades into the background. There aren’t many stakes or tension anymore — just two people navigating life during a difficult moment.
Both threads had the potential to shine on their own. If they’d had more space to grow and transition naturally, they could have complemented each other beautifully. Combined as they are, the book sometimes felt more like a collection of familiar romance beats, sprinkled with spicy scenes that didn’t always land with the emotional weight they could have had.
One thing that absolutely elevated the experience for me was the audiobook. The duet narration is fantastic — the narrators really bring the characters to life and add depth to moments that might have otherwise fallen flat on the page.
Overall, I’m glad I read it: it’s a gentle, easy romance with heartfelt moments, even if the story didn’t always fully click for me.
November 16, 2025
Wow—there is so much to unpack in this story, I don’t even know where to begin! This was my very first book by Cadence Keys, and I’m so glad I stumbled across it. I wasn’t sure I’d have time to read it, but once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down.
The book follows Abby and Foster, two characters who completely pulled me in. Foster is the son of a wealthy, ruthless businessman who’s already mapped out his future—whether Foster likes it or not. In the meantime, he plays football at Clark Fork University in Montana. Abby, on the other hand, has endured heartbreaking loss. With her parents gone, her grandmother stepped in to care for her younger brother so Abby could continue her college career.
Their paths first crossed freshman year at a party, where Foster drunkenly kissed Abby but didn’t remember her afterward. Later, fate intertwines their lives again when Foster needs a math tutor. What neither of them realizes is that they’ve already been connecting anonymously through a gaming app, building a bond that feels real and undeniable.
The character development here is phenomenal—you can’t help but get invested in their journeys. I admired how both Abby and Foster worked so hard for what they wanted, while leaning on the support of the people around them. This story beautifully shows that family isn’t only about blood ties. I especially loved how considerate Foster was of Abby’s inexperience, always making sure she never felt pressured into anything she wasn’t ready for.
This book is heartfelt, swoony, and full of emotional depth. I can’t wait to see where their careers—and their relationship—take them in future installments. Cadence Keys has definitely earned a spot on my must-read list!
The book follows Abby and Foster, two characters who completely pulled me in. Foster is the son of a wealthy, ruthless businessman who’s already mapped out his future—whether Foster likes it or not. In the meantime, he plays football at Clark Fork University in Montana. Abby, on the other hand, has endured heartbreaking loss. With her parents gone, her grandmother stepped in to care for her younger brother so Abby could continue her college career.
Their paths first crossed freshman year at a party, where Foster drunkenly kissed Abby but didn’t remember her afterward. Later, fate intertwines their lives again when Foster needs a math tutor. What neither of them realizes is that they’ve already been connecting anonymously through a gaming app, building a bond that feels real and undeniable.
The character development here is phenomenal—you can’t help but get invested in their journeys. I admired how both Abby and Foster worked so hard for what they wanted, while leaning on the support of the people around them. This story beautifully shows that family isn’t only about blood ties. I especially loved how considerate Foster was of Abby’s inexperience, always making sure she never felt pressured into anything she wasn’t ready for.
This book is heartfelt, swoony, and full of emotional depth. I can’t wait to see where their careers—and their relationship—take them in future installments. Cadence Keys has definitely earned a spot on my must-read list!
January 7, 2026
Rating: ✩✩✩✩ ½
Spice: 🌶🌶
Narration: ✩✩✩✩✩
➛ Duet Narration
➛ Christian Fox & Celia Stone
TROPES:
♡ College Sports Romance
♡ Hockey Captain x Women in STEM
♡ Opposites Attract
♡ Dyscalculia Rep
♡ Hidden Identities
♡ Found Family
♡ No 3rd Act Breakup (Yay!)
I think the best way to describe this novel (at least in terms of vibes) would be Abby. lols. So Abby is the FMC in this novel by Cadence Keys and, like this story, she is very understated, is intelligent, has this quiet strength about her, a strong sense of loyalty, and is someone who is easy to like. You start to fall for her because of how Foster feels about her. And the story reflects this kinda quiet sweetness that is deceptively one-note when in fact, it is quite charming. Is it a bit on the tame side? A little corny? A little cheesy? Sure... but maybe I was just in the right mindset and mood for an easy read with cute MCs who play Stardew Valley together, have amazing communication skills and super supportive friends, are very mature for their age, and are incredibly loyal to each other. I want nothing but the best for these two and thank goodness we are getting more from this Uni-verse bc I like the friend group too!
Duet style narration was great! Christian Fox was amazing as always and even though Celia Stone was a new to me narrator, she was also so great! They delivered such a dynamic performance, I was really invested in these two's HEA!
Overall, Cadence Keys is a new-to-me author, I had a great time with this! Heck, I can't wait to start the next one. I hope it's just as good with college shenanigans, sexy hockey players, and the amazing ladies that they fall head over skates for! :D
Spice: 🌶🌶
Narration: ✩✩✩✩✩
➛ Duet Narration
➛ Christian Fox & Celia Stone
TROPES:
♡ College Sports Romance
♡ Hockey Captain x Women in STEM
♡ Opposites Attract
♡ Dyscalculia Rep
♡ Hidden Identities
♡ Found Family
♡ No 3rd Act Breakup (Yay!)
I think the best way to describe this novel (at least in terms of vibes) would be Abby. lols. So Abby is the FMC in this novel by Cadence Keys and, like this story, she is very understated, is intelligent, has this quiet strength about her, a strong sense of loyalty, and is someone who is easy to like. You start to fall for her because of how Foster feels about her. And the story reflects this kinda quiet sweetness that is deceptively one-note when in fact, it is quite charming. Is it a bit on the tame side? A little corny? A little cheesy? Sure... but maybe I was just in the right mindset and mood for an easy read with cute MCs who play Stardew Valley together, have amazing communication skills and super supportive friends, are very mature for their age, and are incredibly loyal to each other. I want nothing but the best for these two and thank goodness we are getting more from this Uni-verse bc I like the friend group too!
Duet style narration was great! Christian Fox was amazing as always and even though Celia Stone was a new to me narrator, she was also so great! They delivered such a dynamic performance, I was really invested in these two's HEA!
Overall, Cadence Keys is a new-to-me author, I had a great time with this! Heck, I can't wait to start the next one. I hope it's just as good with college shenanigans, sexy hockey players, and the amazing ladies that they fall head over skates for! :D
October 25, 2025
What do you get when your crush shows up unexpectedly at the tutoring center you work at? Well, you try not to make eye contact and then realize that you need to help him. And while you are working you realize that you really didn’t know him at all and this person is really something special. That is everything Foster is hoping for when he meets Abby. These two were so perfect together, but nothing is simple and their road has a lot of potholes and speed bumps to get around. But here is what I loved the most, it was the found family that makes you fall even more in love with the book. It is the way everyone supports each other and the way that Foster and Abby are so strong together. It was like their love was written in the stars and, not until they found one another, that they found the strength needed to get through the tough times. The love was fantastic, and I loved every minute of learning and spending time with all the characters. Foster might be the captain of the hockey team at the university, but there is SO much more to him and watching the layers slowly peel away makes you appreciate all that he is for now. Watching these two fall in love and stand beside each other no matter what makes this a fantastic book to enjoy. With that said, I am ready for the next book already because I know it will be amazing. I want to add that I was lucky enough to get to listen to the audio of this book as well get to read it and I did both as I always love to highlight some of my favorite quotes. Christian Fox and Celia Stone were absolutely AMAZING as Foster and Abby. They brought these characters to life in my ears and made it impossible to push pause at any point.
December 1, 2025
This was a great first in series and I really enjoyed the entire book. I have read other works by Cadence Keys and have rally enjoyed her writing style and plots.
Foster is a big hockey star on campus and is loved by everyone. What people don't realize is that Foster has his own struggles that he shows to no one. His dad is very controlling and unkind which he has dealt with all his life; he isn't allowed to fail. Abby is a smart wallflower who is content to be unnoticed by everyone...especially Foster. Or so she keeps telling herself. Abby and Foster has a moment Freshman year but Foster ruined it by being extremely drunk and then not remembering it after the fact. Then Abby had tragedy strike soon after and she decided being seen wasn't worth it. Now Foster needs help; he is failing math and he doesn't fail at anything. When Abby is assigned as his tutor, she is unhappy but Foster doesn't understand why. He has an uphill battle to try to win her over. And unbeknownst to either of them, they are already connected through an online game that they play under different names.
As the two start to connect, both quickly realize that they really complete the other. But they have some serious struggles ahead of them. Foster's dad isn't going to back down from getting his way. And Abby has more loss coming her way. The two have to be open, honest and rely no each other to get through.
I loved Foster. Abby was hurt and he took it seriously to win her back over. And once he did, he was all in. And Abby really opened herself up again. A great book overall for a young adult sports romance.
Foster is a big hockey star on campus and is loved by everyone. What people don't realize is that Foster has his own struggles that he shows to no one. His dad is very controlling and unkind which he has dealt with all his life; he isn't allowed to fail. Abby is a smart wallflower who is content to be unnoticed by everyone...especially Foster. Or so she keeps telling herself. Abby and Foster has a moment Freshman year but Foster ruined it by being extremely drunk and then not remembering it after the fact. Then Abby had tragedy strike soon after and she decided being seen wasn't worth it. Now Foster needs help; he is failing math and he doesn't fail at anything. When Abby is assigned as his tutor, she is unhappy but Foster doesn't understand why. He has an uphill battle to try to win her over. And unbeknownst to either of them, they are already connected through an online game that they play under different names.
As the two start to connect, both quickly realize that they really complete the other. But they have some serious struggles ahead of them. Foster's dad isn't going to back down from getting his way. And Abby has more loss coming her way. The two have to be open, honest and rely no each other to get through.
I loved Foster. Abby was hurt and he took it seriously to win her back over. And once he did, he was all in. And Abby really opened herself up again. A great book overall for a young adult sports romance.
November 9, 2025
Y'all this book was just too danged cute. It was a great palette cleanser after reading some darker themed books. I'm honestly not sure if I have read any of the authors other books but I very much enjoyed her writing style and am grateful for the opportunity to read this early!
Just imagine, your the shy, quiet girl who one time tries to bust out of her shell with the hot hockey player just for it to blow up in her face, or ya know, something like that, and, coupled with dealing with the loss of a loved one, it causes her to go back in to her shell. She then turns to online gaming and becomes fast friends with "Bear."
Fast forward a couple of years, Foster needs a math tutor and Abby is assigned to help him. She's still so attracted to him, but also embarrassed because he obviously doesn't remember her, so she tries to keep him at a distance. Foster is smitten and just cant figure out why Abby isn't in to him.
When their online persona's decide to meet, Foster learns who Abby is and is so afraid that she'll run the other way that he decides not to follow through with the meet up and then hides who he is from her, so he can win her over in real life, not just through the game.
This books has low angst (thank you for not making me cry, much anyway!), some embarrassing moments, a few laughs and definitely has some steamy moments. I enjoyed both of our characters, they seemed well rounded and relatable and I definitely look forward to reading more from this author!
Just imagine, your the shy, quiet girl who one time tries to bust out of her shell with the hot hockey player just for it to blow up in her face, or ya know, something like that, and, coupled with dealing with the loss of a loved one, it causes her to go back in to her shell. She then turns to online gaming and becomes fast friends with "Bear."
Fast forward a couple of years, Foster needs a math tutor and Abby is assigned to help him. She's still so attracted to him, but also embarrassed because he obviously doesn't remember her, so she tries to keep him at a distance. Foster is smitten and just cant figure out why Abby isn't in to him.
When their online persona's decide to meet, Foster learns who Abby is and is so afraid that she'll run the other way that he decides not to follow through with the meet up and then hides who he is from her, so he can win her over in real life, not just through the game.
This books has low angst (thank you for not making me cry, much anyway!), some embarrassing moments, a few laughs and definitely has some steamy moments. I enjoyed both of our characters, they seemed well rounded and relatable and I definitely look forward to reading more from this author!
November 10, 2025
This book had everything I love in a college romance — a hot hockey-playing MMC who also plays Stardew Valley? Absolute perfection. Foster and Abby’s story was beautifully written, full of humour, heart, and emotional depth.
What stood out most to me was how both characters found their family through their friends. The friend group dynamic felt so real and supportive, making the story even more heartfelt. I loved watching Foster try to win Abby over — he was persistent, romantic, and incredibly satisfying as a love interest. Their chemistry was so natural, and the emotional moments hit just as hard as the funny ones.
And now for the audio — omg! Christian Fox never disappoints. Hearing him as a college hockey player brings me so much joy! He brings such life and depth to Foster that I was completely immersed in the story. Celia Stone was equally amazing as Abby — she perfectly captured Abby’s emotions and growth, making every scene feel alive and real.
Since I received both the ARC and the ALC, I did a bit of immersive reading, switching between the two. But honestly, the audio pulled me in so much that I found myself just listening straight through. And let’s be honest — if you’ve ever listened to Mr. Fox before, you know how dangerously good he sounds when he says “baby” or “f*ck.” 🫠
Cadence Keys did an amazing job blending romance, humour, and genuine emotion. This was my first book by her, but definitely not my last — I can’t wait to continue this series.
Thank you, Cadence Keys, for the ARC and ALC!
What stood out most to me was how both characters found their family through their friends. The friend group dynamic felt so real and supportive, making the story even more heartfelt. I loved watching Foster try to win Abby over — he was persistent, romantic, and incredibly satisfying as a love interest. Their chemistry was so natural, and the emotional moments hit just as hard as the funny ones.
And now for the audio — omg! Christian Fox never disappoints. Hearing him as a college hockey player brings me so much joy! He brings such life and depth to Foster that I was completely immersed in the story. Celia Stone was equally amazing as Abby — she perfectly captured Abby’s emotions and growth, making every scene feel alive and real.
Since I received both the ARC and the ALC, I did a bit of immersive reading, switching between the two. But honestly, the audio pulled me in so much that I found myself just listening straight through. And let’s be honest — if you’ve ever listened to Mr. Fox before, you know how dangerously good he sounds when he says “baby” or “f*ck.” 🫠
Cadence Keys did an amazing job blending romance, humour, and genuine emotion. This was my first book by her, but definitely not my last — I can’t wait to continue this series.
Thank you, Cadence Keys, for the ARC and ALC!
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