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Gods Versus Monsters Hockey #3
A Puck Between Friends
When my best friend offers to come as my date to my sister’s wedding to get back at my sister for breaking his heart, I agree thinking it will be hilarious. What I didn’t consider was that I’ve been in love with him half my life, and all the consequences of us fake dating.
My family demands I bring my new boyfriend to her shower first, and things only go downhill from there. My sister is marrying the goalie from our rival team who immediately is up in arms about us dating.
Fair, but I don’t have time to dwell on it as things quickly get weird with my best friend. Wolfe is straight, it shouldn’t be weird right? It’s fake after all. But I’m so wrong. He kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before, and then we both realize we have to keep this up for months until the wedding.
Between the unexpected sexual tension, hockey, and the secrets we are keeping. I don’t know how we’re going to get through the season.
Tropes:
College Hockey
Fake dating
Childhood best friends
Bi-awakening
Idiots to lovers
Goalie
My family demands I bring my new boyfriend to her shower first, and things only go downhill from there. My sister is marrying the goalie from our rival team who immediately is up in arms about us dating.
Fair, but I don’t have time to dwell on it as things quickly get weird with my best friend. Wolfe is straight, it shouldn’t be weird right? It’s fake after all. But I’m so wrong. He kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before, and then we both realize we have to keep this up for months until the wedding.
Between the unexpected sexual tension, hockey, and the secrets we are keeping. I don’t know how we’re going to get through the season.
Tropes:
College Hockey
Fake dating
Childhood best friends
Bi-awakening
Idiots to lovers
Goalie
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2026
358 people are currently reading
1395 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Gray
58 books1,368 followersWhen not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
April 2, 2026
It’s not the worst book I’ve ever read but it’s not the best either I got bored and confused a lot
April 3, 2026
Дурненька та ржачна історія. Idiots to lovers в усій красі😄
“What is going on?” Coach Hawke asks, having come in at some point.
Ridgeway cuts in, “Everyone is gay, and most of them are fucking guys on other teams, which probably should be alarming, but since you’re fucking one of your players, you can’t really have an opinion.”
Hawke opens his mouth like he’s going to say something, then scrubs a hand over his face. “How many… No—who is—no! Don’t tell me.” He presses his eyes closed like he’s really going through it. “I’m starting to regret every decision I’ve ever made,” he finally mutters.
Cox leans in. “Don’t worry. I’ll blow you later, and you’ll forget all about this.”
“I swear to God, if you propose before you blow me, I am going to be so mad.”
“I was just trying to save something for marriage!” I hold up my hands.
April 8, 2026
4,5⭐️
These ridiculous boys really made me smile so big 🤭
Archangel and Wolfe have known each other for some time, considering that Wolfe used to date Archangel's sister 🫣 this whole setup really adds some tension, and then there is a whole plot which leads to a fake relationship, so there is even more tension and craziness to come 👀
I loved these guys very much, the trope idiots to lovers really fits so perfectly and their whole dynamic is hilarious 🤣
If you like your hockey boys funny and with a delicious amount of spiciness, you really should check out this one ✨️
These ridiculous boys really made me smile so big 🤭
Archangel and Wolfe have known each other for some time, considering that Wolfe used to date Archangel's sister 🫣 this whole setup really adds some tension, and then there is a whole plot which leads to a fake relationship, so there is even more tension and craziness to come 👀
I loved these guys very much, the trope idiots to lovers really fits so perfectly and their whole dynamic is hilarious 🤣
If you like your hockey boys funny and with a delicious amount of spiciness, you really should check out this one ✨️
April 2, 2026
So is shitting on women a thing all MM authors plan to do? Because that’s too many books in a row for my own comfort. The worst one being the gay characters saying that men give better blow jobs because they actually like dicks and straight girls don’t, lovely. You know you can have a queer awakening without anyone shitting on sex with women that is so meaningless compared to the new found experience of having sex with a guy? Just wondering.
Anyway this author is not for me I guess but I worry about that trend, I don’t read MM to see people shitting on women. The book is also too long, no good romance needs over 400 pages to tell a story. Get an editor who will tell you to cut shit out.
Anyway this author is not for me I guess but I worry about that trend, I don’t read MM to see people shitting on women. The book is also too long, no good romance needs over 400 pages to tell a story. Get an editor who will tell you to cut shit out.
April 1, 2026
ARC read
5⭐️ 3.5🌶️
Read this if you like: M/M college hockey romance, childhood best friends to lovers, fake dating, bi-awakening, sisters ex and goalies are weird.
Fav part/scene: The moments during the wedding events where the fake dating starts feeling incredibly real. The tension during that first show off kiss is top tier and sets the tone for their shifting dynamic.
Unique factor: The specific Gods vs. Monsters rivalry dynamic in the series. This book expertly balances the high-stakes pressure of a hockey season with the messy, emotional complications of being in love with your best friend and finding out there may be a chance.
Unforgettable moment: When Wolfe, who is known for being a bit of a chaotic goalie, shows his soft, protective side toward Archangel. Seeing their lifelong bond provide the foundation for their new romantic connection is really sweet.
Recommend it? Definitely! It’s a great mix of sweet, steamy, and low angst.
Part of a series: Yes—Gods Versus Monsters Hockey (Book 3).
On Kindle Unlimited: Yes.
5⭐️ 3.5🌶️
Read this if you like: M/M college hockey romance, childhood best friends to lovers, fake dating, bi-awakening, sisters ex and goalies are weird.
Fav part/scene: The moments during the wedding events where the fake dating starts feeling incredibly real. The tension during that first show off kiss is top tier and sets the tone for their shifting dynamic.
Unique factor: The specific Gods vs. Monsters rivalry dynamic in the series. This book expertly balances the high-stakes pressure of a hockey season with the messy, emotional complications of being in love with your best friend and finding out there may be a chance.
Unforgettable moment: When Wolfe, who is known for being a bit of a chaotic goalie, shows his soft, protective side toward Archangel. Seeing their lifelong bond provide the foundation for their new romantic connection is really sweet.
Recommend it? Definitely! It’s a great mix of sweet, steamy, and low angst.
Part of a series: Yes—Gods Versus Monsters Hockey (Book 3).
On Kindle Unlimited: Yes.
April 20, 2026
3.5 pucks🏒
Like the author said in the brief, idiots to lovers with lots of hockey and an unhealthy dose of Doctor Pepper 🤗
A fun read.
Like the author said in the brief, idiots to lovers with lots of hockey and an unhealthy dose of Doctor Pepper 🤗
A fun read.
April 19, 2026
a little too kooky for me (I’ll read another)
March 21, 2026
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Ah, goalies…(full review coming)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Ah, goalies…(full review coming)
April 7, 2026
Wolfe & Archangel are the best 🥹🥹🥹
May 6, 2026
Sweet friends to lovers hockey romance, with fake dating, Bi-Awakening, and family drama.
May 9, 2026
“ I thought I’d keep it in the family since we are all so close.”
April 13, 2026
I love a good best friends to lovers, and this one delivers with all the tension—especially with the fake dating turning very real, very fast. Angel being secretly in love for years had me in my feelings, and watching Wolfe slowly realize his feeling was honestly everything.
The dynamic between them felt easy and natural, but also messy in the best way thanks to the family drama and that whole situation with the sister.
Overall, it’s cute, a little angsty, a little dramatic, and full of those “this is definitely not fake anymore” moments. Perfect if you’re in the mood for soft hockey romance with emotional payoff
The dynamic between them felt easy and natural, but also messy in the best way thanks to the family drama and that whole situation with the sister.
Overall, it’s cute, a little angsty, a little dramatic, and full of those “this is definitely not fake anymore” moments. Perfect if you’re in the mood for soft hockey romance with emotional payoff
April 24, 2026
DNF @ 21%
Notes I took while reading:
Small almost contradiction at the beginning. Angel says he's "more than used to" seeing women hit on Wolfe, but then says he needs to put some distance between Wolfe and the women because he could only take so much before getting sick. I suppose he could be used to seeing it but still not be comfortable, but the implication of the first sentence was that it was no longer an issue.
Jesus, both Angel and Wolfe were insufferable when they went to the gay bar together. Those kinds of scenes usually have only one of them being explicitly protective then the other realizing that and having their dynamic evolve from there. Them both being jealous and protective just muddied their dynamic since it wasn't even addressed, and somehow ends with Wolfe saying "I thought we were having fun" when the entire scene had shown neither of them actually enjoying it (because Wolfe clearly wasn't liking it and Angel always managed to disappear once they hit the dance floor).
Then Angel suddenly crying by the bathrooms because his sister wanted to meet his BF, and that somehow meant he and Wolfe couldn't fake a relationship because they'd take too long, was very very weird. First of all, the story hadn't done a good job explaining why Angel was still in contact with his homophobic family, nor why he cared so much about what they thought of him of they truly were so disrespectful. You can't pull the whole "they're my family" schtick because simply being related to someone doesn't automagically give them a reason to be worth keeping in his life. I needed something concrete to latch onto. Was Angel dependent on their financial support? Were there good times he still hoped they could return to? I couldn't find it in myself to feel sympathetic towards Angel for crying about his toxic family telling him to bring a BF when there was no reason presented for why he was even willing to entertain his family in the first place. That's not even mentioning that he could've made a fake excuse up about his BF not being able to make it to the bridal shower because it was last minute then just having Wolfe come to the wedding like they originally planned.
Weird dialogue in the scene where Wolfe tries to convince Angel that faking a relationship is still a good idea. Wolfe says that just because they'd fake date, doesn't mean that public would know, and thus, there'd be no effect on his career. Angel then asks, "What if he leaks it?" WHO is "he" in this sentence? The prior chapter ended with Angel crying because his sister was the one who asked him to bring his BF. I guess they were taking about his sister's fiancé since he was the rival goalie BUT you cannot just randomly start talking about someone tagential using pronouns without introducing them into the conversation first.
Also, why would Angel's family not wanting people to know he was gay even matter? Afaik, he said that he wasn't in the closet, so people would naturally assume his plus one would be his partner. And presumably the groom's teammates would be at the wedding and see them together, then they'd obviously talk about it, putting the idea that Wolfe was queer into the hockey space and affecting his draft chances that way. It was so weird for the story to just make it seem like "Oh Angel's family won't say anything so it's fine" when the were so many other possible concerns that weren't addressed by that but are ignored. Then Wolfe himself says that he doesn't care about how he's being perceived... So why was that even a source of conflict to begin with? Wolfe doesn't care about looking queer and doesn't believe that his chances for a good draft would be weakened by doing so. I can understand Angel being more pragmatic about it and believing the opposite, but the writing didn't do a good job of showing that dichotomy as being the source of the friction. It just presents "we can't have you look gay!" then writes all the reasons why Wolfe doesn't care about that, basically making the problem a non-issue. The story should've focused on the disagreement between the two rather than whether or not looking gay actually would actually have had any impact on Wolfe's draft chances.
I was so annoyed when Angel just continually played the "I can't leave because my family will hate it" without actually giving a reason for why he even gives a shit about what his family thought about in the first place. I needed something, ANYTHING to justify his loyalty to people who'd been described as nothing but toxic. Since the story never truly presents one, it just looked like Angel was putting himself in situations that victimized him, and I hate whiny MCs that only complain about situations they put themselves in.
I gave up when Wolfe started getting pissy when Angel sat away from him after their kiss. It wasn't cute or endearing seeing a grown man throw a tantrum because someone sat on the other end of the couch. If anything, Angel so quickly apologizing then appeasing Wolfe gave off toxic relationship vibes. I was already contemplating DNFing because Angel's insistence on putting himself in bad situations was annoying, but Wolfe acting like Angel owed him affection, then getting mad when he didn't get it actually turned me off completely.
TL;DR: Story needed work imo. The conflicts only make sense if you don't think about them too hard (which is a shame because a little bit of tweaking would've actually made them more believable). If Angel had a legitimate reason to endure his family's harassment, it would've been fine. If Wolfe's draft chances were actually shown to be an issue, or if Wolfe cared about looking gay, it would've made sense. But instead Angel just goes along with his homophobic family for seemingly no reason and Wolfe doesn't even give a shit about looking gay so it's a non-issue. Also, both Angel and Wolfe were unlikable imo since Angel was too whiny for situations he put himself in and Wolfe was annoyingly possessive and expectant of Angel's affections as if he somehow had a right to them all the time. 1.5 stars rounded up.
Notes I took while reading:
Small almost contradiction at the beginning. Angel says he's "more than used to" seeing women hit on Wolfe, but then says he needs to put some distance between Wolfe and the women because he could only take so much before getting sick. I suppose he could be used to seeing it but still not be comfortable, but the implication of the first sentence was that it was no longer an issue.
Jesus, both Angel and Wolfe were insufferable when they went to the gay bar together. Those kinds of scenes usually have only one of them being explicitly protective then the other realizing that and having their dynamic evolve from there. Them both being jealous and protective just muddied their dynamic since it wasn't even addressed, and somehow ends with Wolfe saying "I thought we were having fun" when the entire scene had shown neither of them actually enjoying it (because Wolfe clearly wasn't liking it and Angel always managed to disappear once they hit the dance floor).
Then Angel suddenly crying by the bathrooms because his sister wanted to meet his BF, and that somehow meant he and Wolfe couldn't fake a relationship because they'd take too long, was very very weird. First of all, the story hadn't done a good job explaining why Angel was still in contact with his homophobic family, nor why he cared so much about what they thought of him of they truly were so disrespectful. You can't pull the whole "they're my family" schtick because simply being related to someone doesn't automagically give them a reason to be worth keeping in his life. I needed something concrete to latch onto. Was Angel dependent on their financial support? Were there good times he still hoped they could return to? I couldn't find it in myself to feel sympathetic towards Angel for crying about his toxic family telling him to bring a BF when there was no reason presented for why he was even willing to entertain his family in the first place. That's not even mentioning that he could've made a fake excuse up about his BF not being able to make it to the bridal shower because it was last minute then just having Wolfe come to the wedding like they originally planned.
Weird dialogue in the scene where Wolfe tries to convince Angel that faking a relationship is still a good idea. Wolfe says that just because they'd fake date, doesn't mean that public would know, and thus, there'd be no effect on his career. Angel then asks, "What if he leaks it?" WHO is "he" in this sentence? The prior chapter ended with Angel crying because his sister was the one who asked him to bring his BF. I guess they were taking about his sister's fiancé since he was the rival goalie BUT you cannot just randomly start talking about someone tagential using pronouns without introducing them into the conversation first.
Also, why would Angel's family not wanting people to know he was gay even matter? Afaik, he said that he wasn't in the closet, so people would naturally assume his plus one would be his partner. And presumably the groom's teammates would be at the wedding and see them together, then they'd obviously talk about it, putting the idea that Wolfe was queer into the hockey space and affecting his draft chances that way. It was so weird for the story to just make it seem like "Oh Angel's family won't say anything so it's fine" when the were so many other possible concerns that weren't addressed by that but are ignored. Then Wolfe himself says that he doesn't care about how he's being perceived... So why was that even a source of conflict to begin with? Wolfe doesn't care about looking queer and doesn't believe that his chances for a good draft would be weakened by doing so. I can understand Angel being more pragmatic about it and believing the opposite, but the writing didn't do a good job of showing that dichotomy as being the source of the friction. It just presents "we can't have you look gay!" then writes all the reasons why Wolfe doesn't care about that, basically making the problem a non-issue. The story should've focused on the disagreement between the two rather than whether or not looking gay actually would actually have had any impact on Wolfe's draft chances.
I was so annoyed when Angel just continually played the "I can't leave because my family will hate it" without actually giving a reason for why he even gives a shit about what his family thought about in the first place. I needed something, ANYTHING to justify his loyalty to people who'd been described as nothing but toxic. Since the story never truly presents one, it just looked like Angel was putting himself in situations that victimized him, and I hate whiny MCs that only complain about situations they put themselves in.
I gave up when Wolfe started getting pissy when Angel sat away from him after their kiss. It wasn't cute or endearing seeing a grown man throw a tantrum because someone sat on the other end of the couch. If anything, Angel so quickly apologizing then appeasing Wolfe gave off toxic relationship vibes. I was already contemplating DNFing because Angel's insistence on putting himself in bad situations was annoying, but Wolfe acting like Angel owed him affection, then getting mad when he didn't get it actually turned me off completely.
TL;DR: Story needed work imo. The conflicts only make sense if you don't think about them too hard (which is a shame because a little bit of tweaking would've actually made them more believable). If Angel had a legitimate reason to endure his family's harassment, it would've been fine. If Wolfe's draft chances were actually shown to be an issue, or if Wolfe cared about looking gay, it would've made sense. But instead Angel just goes along with his homophobic family for seemingly no reason and Wolfe doesn't even give a shit about looking gay so it's a non-issue. Also, both Angel and Wolfe were unlikable imo since Angel was too whiny for situations he put himself in and Wolfe was annoyingly possessive and expectant of Angel's affections as if he somehow had a right to them all the time. 1.5 stars rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 gay witchcraft Stars
⭐ |
4
🌶️
ARC Read: 24/03/2026
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you JR Gray for this gift. 🥰
What to expect from this book? 🤔
🫶 MM Adult Hockey Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
🏒 Friends To Lovers
💚 Fake Dating
🏒 Sister's Ex
💚 Idiot Roommates To Lovers
🏒 One Sided Pining
💚 Possessiveness & Jealousy
🏒 “I’m going to ruin you for anyone else.”
💚 Firsts Times
🏒 Practice Makes Perfect
💚 Touch-Starved
🏒 Needy Whimpering Mess
💚 Mark Me
🏒 Fishnets
💚 "Good Boy"
🏒 Manhandling
💚 Little Innocent Bean
🏒 "Angel Baby"
💚 Gay Witchcraft
🏒 Overgrown Golden Retriever Goalie
💚 Sworn Off Relationships
🏒 Emotional Scars
💚 Found Family
🏒 Bisexual Awakening
💚 HEA
ARC Read: 24/03/2026
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you JR Gray for this gift. 🥰
What to expect from this book? 🤔
🫶 MM Adult Hockey Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
🏒 Friends To Lovers
💚 Fake Dating
🏒 Sister's Ex
💚 Idiot Roommates To Lovers
🏒 One Sided Pining
💚 Possessiveness & Jealousy
🏒 “I’m going to ruin you for anyone else.”
💚 Firsts Times
🏒 Practice Makes Perfect
💚 Touch-Starved
🏒 Needy Whimpering Mess
💚 Mark Me
🏒 Fishnets
💚 "Good Boy"
🏒 Manhandling
💚 Little Innocent Bean
🏒 "Angel Baby"
💚 Gay Witchcraft
🏒 Overgrown Golden Retriever Goalie
💚 Sworn Off Relationships
🏒 Emotional Scars
💚 Found Family
🏒 Bisexual Awakening
💚 HEA
✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨
"Wolfe: We fit together, and it’s just like the closeness we already share, but better, more connected.
He digs his fingers into the back of my head, pressing his body against mine, taking over I catch up quickly, sliding my fingers around his nape. He tastes like vodka, but under it there’s the tea he likes to drink, and honey. Kissing him is so much easier than I thought it would be.
His stubble burns the edges of my lips, and I chase the intensity of it. He’s intoxicating and my body reacts to it more than I thought it would.
My lips ache, and I realize Archangel is wrong about one thing: kissing him is nothing like kissing a woman. It’s intense, and challenging, hard where women are soft. It’s equal in a way I’d never thought sex could be. "
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Format: Ebook/ARC
Cover: 5/5
Series: #3
Story: 5/5
POV: Dual - 1st Person
Plot: 5/5
✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨
Wolfe: “I think they like him more than both of us,” Steph sighs. “But that’s your problem now.”
“It’s the best problem to have,” Archangel says smugly.
My cheeks heat, and I drag him closer to kiss his temple. “I’m never going to stop being your problem.”
He’s mine and I’m possessive over my best friend. No one is taking him from me."
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Main Characters:
5/5 - Archangel: he/him, petnames: Angel
5/5 -Wolfe: he/him.
Side Characters: 5/5
Steam Level: 5/5
Romance: High Focus
✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨
"Archangel: We pull up in front of the house, both get out, and I expect it to be awkward once we get in the house, but before I can peel off my coat, he’s on me. So close I can feel the heat coming off his body.
“Should we talk about this?” he asks, tilting my jaw up with a knuckle under it.
“Do you need to talk about it?” I ask breathless, not wanting to talk, because if we do, I’ll let doubt creep back in, and tonight, I want to enjoy the fantasy.
“I know what I want.” He kisses me, but it’s not aggressive like I want; it’s as soft as he’s been all afternoon.
“What do you want?” I flick my tongue just past his lips.
“Every single part of you that you’ll let me have.”
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Humor: High Focus
Angst: Low Focus
Cheating? No
The Ending: 5/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger: HEA
Favorite character? BOTH
Enjoyment: 5/5
✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨
Archangel: “Marking what’s mine.”
“Are you jealous?”
He growls. “Do I have a reason to be jealous?”
“No.” I fight a smile.
“That guy was all over you.”
“I’m not looking at anyone else.” I’m breathless as he grinds against me.
He claims my mouth harshly. “You better not be. You belong to me.”
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Gods Versus Monsters Hockey Series:
1. No Pucks - 5,0 stars
2. Two Guys One Puck - 5,0 stars
3. A Puck Between Friends - 5,0 stars
Expected 30/09/2026:
4. Puck Around And Find Out
Hope this review was helpful.
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April 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
”Ever been in love with a guy who’s in love with someone else? And to make matters much worse, she’s a bitch…and my sister.”
Hockey players on the same team, plus fake dating, and Wolfe and Archangel being perfect together? Loved it!
”But I can’t gossip with them.”
I stare at him. “Why not?”
“Because no one gossips like a cunty, gay man, and you know it.”
The banter and Wolfe in general were also pretty hilarious!
”What do you want?” I flick my tongue just past his lips. “Every single part of you that you’ll let me have.”
”Ever been in love with a guy who’s in love with someone else? And to make matters much worse, she’s a bitch…and my sister.”
Hockey players on the same team, plus fake dating, and Wolfe and Archangel being perfect together? Loved it!
”But I can’t gossip with them.”
I stare at him. “Why not?”
“Because no one gossips like a cunty, gay man, and you know it.”
The banter and Wolfe in general were also pretty hilarious!
”What do you want?” I flick my tongue just past his lips. “Every single part of you that you’ll let me have.”
May 5, 2026
What a sweet hockey read!
I loved the friends to lovers, fake dating combo. Gray did it so well and nothing felt forced or overdone. I’m always here for the revenge of the ex, which was a nice add in trope.
Over all a great and quick pick me up book!
I loved the friends to lovers, fake dating combo. Gray did it so well and nothing felt forced or overdone. I’m always here for the revenge of the ex, which was a nice add in trope.
Over all a great and quick pick me up book!
April 23, 2026
I liked this one a lot. Was it perfect? No, but it sure was entertaining😅😂
April 29, 2026
This felt like the perfect book. I absolutely love the concept of idiots to lovers and hate that I’ll probably never find another as amazing as this one. They’re both so sweet and good together. Beautifully written. Definitely would recommend this book to my friends.
April 7, 2026
Not great not terrible. The MCs were enjoyable and cute, but nothing really happened during the book. The change from 'fake dating' to 'real dating' happened in like 2 seconds and a very short conversation about it. I finished it, but can't say I'll remember anything from it.
April 25, 2026
Enjoyed this one but I still think the 2nd one is the best! While this book gave me the love confession I yearned for compared to the other ones, parts of the book felt confusing (like who was talking, what the setting was, also some typos, etc.) and took me outside of their story a little bit. I wish we got more of a background on Wolfe and his past because it all being surface level made it harder for me to form a connection to his character. BUT! I did love these two together. I loved how they would ALWAYS be each other’s best friends.
Angel had been in love with Wolfe since high school and it just took him a little while to believe Wolfe actually wanted him too (as real boyfriends) with that straight narrative stuck in his head. But once Wolfe got it through his head that he wanted him for real, it was just happiness overload!! Wolfe was such a funny, open, carefree character and had me cracking up constantly. The way he answered questions like they were obvious was everything to me especially when it was questions Angel had been stressed about asking lol. Like yeah I think after all that hooking up, asking your best friend if he liked it and wanted to be bf’s for real was obvious 🤣 Even if it took Wolfe to realize it himself, Angel had always been his favorite person and the only one who he’d felt at home with. There’s truly nothing better than realizing that you’d been in love with your best friend the entire time (even if the yearning was painful for Angel), that now experiencing it in real time makes you realize it how deep that love had always run.
The end was cute and satisfying and I just know Angel is going to be the best WAG!!
— quotes
“You know I love you, and I’d do anything for you,” — “I know you would. And I’d do anything for you.”
“I know you would. And I’d do anything for you,” — “But you’re going to enjoy it.”
“You really need to find better people to kiss if that one took you out. I don’t even do it that much.” — “”You must be right.” Because I’ve never been kissed like that in my entire fucking life.”
“I realize Archangel is wrong about one thing: kissing him is nothing like kissing a woman. It’s intense, and challenging, hard where women are soft. It’s equal in a way I’d never thought sex could be.”
“I need him too badly. I need him more than I need anything else in my life, and I want to be the one who makes him happy.”
“His lips pull into a slight smile, clearly enjoying what he’s doing to me. That makes two of us. I never want him to stop. No one has ever made me feel like he does, and so easily.”
“It’s the best problem to have,” Archangel says smugly. My cheeks heat, and I drag him closer to kiss his temple. “I’m never going to stop being your problem.” (🥹🥹)
“Does he even know what he does to me? How he can make me feel a million things with so few words? I am so fucking weak for him.”
“I’ve known you more than half of my life. You think I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with you?” (Bye!!!)
“What do you want?” — “Every single part of you that you’ll let me have.”
“I’m not looking at anyone else.” — “You better not be. You belong to me.”
“I always deserve it. My needs should come first. No matter what.” — “Your needs always come first, baby.” “No matter what.”
“You’re my safe space. You have been for as long as I remember. That’s probably why I dated Steph. In a way, I thought she was the way to be part of it, but it’s not the family I want part of. I want to be your family.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you how I feel but—” — “No, I should have told you how I felt before it got here.” — “How you felt?” — “How I feel. How I’ve always felt.” (Girl stop)
“This is a glimpse into the rest of my life, isn’t it?” — “Only if you’re lucky.”
“He has no idea how into him I am, and I’m going to make it my life’s mission to show him just what he does to me every single day.”
“You gave me a safe space to be myself before I even knew what that meant. You stood up for me to every team we played on together. You never let anyone treat me different or call me a slur, and you made them see me for the player I was, not some ignorant definition of masculinity. You gave me a home before I ever gave you one.” — “You’re my home, too. You always have been.” (😭😭)
“I hate how much I want him. But I never want the feeling to go away.”
“Breathe. I got you.” — “You always have.”
“I’m so in love with him, and it hits me like a ton of bricks. I’ve never loved anyone in my life. And I think I’ve been in love with him for a long time.”
“I honestly didn’t think I could love you more.” — “You don’t have to say it just because I did.” “I know this is early.” — “It’s not early. I’ve been in love with you since high school.”
“I never would have held it against you. But I do want you. I want only you.” — “I want only you too.”
“Everything we faced together showed me there is no one else I want by my side for the highs and the lows. Nothing bad touches me knowing I go home to you. Waking up with you next to me is the greatest joy I’ve ever experienced. You have been my only family for a long time, and I’m so in love with you, carrying it makes my chest feel like it’s going to crack if I try to contain it any longer. I want to be your husband.”
“You’re not allowed to leave me. You are stuck with me now. I’m in love, and you are mine.”
“Archangel, I’ve been in love with you as long as I can remember. This last year has been the happiest of my life, and I need you by my side. Will you be my husband?” — “”Yes,” I barely get out without losing it.”
“How did I not know I was in love with him all this time? It still blows me away.”
“Will you do me the honor of being my husband?” — “Archangel holds out the ring. The way my heart reacts to his words. I lift my hand, allowing him to slide the ring home. He’s my home.”
Angel had been in love with Wolfe since high school and it just took him a little while to believe Wolfe actually wanted him too (as real boyfriends) with that straight narrative stuck in his head. But once Wolfe got it through his head that he wanted him for real, it was just happiness overload!! Wolfe was such a funny, open, carefree character and had me cracking up constantly. The way he answered questions like they were obvious was everything to me especially when it was questions Angel had been stressed about asking lol. Like yeah I think after all that hooking up, asking your best friend if he liked it and wanted to be bf’s for real was obvious 🤣 Even if it took Wolfe to realize it himself, Angel had always been his favorite person and the only one who he’d felt at home with. There’s truly nothing better than realizing that you’d been in love with your best friend the entire time (even if the yearning was painful for Angel), that now experiencing it in real time makes you realize it how deep that love had always run.
The end was cute and satisfying and I just know Angel is going to be the best WAG!!
— quotes
“You know I love you, and I’d do anything for you,” — “I know you would. And I’d do anything for you.”
“I know you would. And I’d do anything for you,” — “But you’re going to enjoy it.”
“You really need to find better people to kiss if that one took you out. I don’t even do it that much.” — “”You must be right.” Because I’ve never been kissed like that in my entire fucking life.”
“I realize Archangel is wrong about one thing: kissing him is nothing like kissing a woman. It’s intense, and challenging, hard where women are soft. It’s equal in a way I’d never thought sex could be.”
“I need him too badly. I need him more than I need anything else in my life, and I want to be the one who makes him happy.”
“His lips pull into a slight smile, clearly enjoying what he’s doing to me. That makes two of us. I never want him to stop. No one has ever made me feel like he does, and so easily.”
“It’s the best problem to have,” Archangel says smugly. My cheeks heat, and I drag him closer to kiss his temple. “I’m never going to stop being your problem.” (🥹🥹)
“Does he even know what he does to me? How he can make me feel a million things with so few words? I am so fucking weak for him.”
“I’ve known you more than half of my life. You think I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with you?” (Bye!!!)
“What do you want?” — “Every single part of you that you’ll let me have.”
“I’m not looking at anyone else.” — “You better not be. You belong to me.”
“I always deserve it. My needs should come first. No matter what.” — “Your needs always come first, baby.” “No matter what.”
“You’re my safe space. You have been for as long as I remember. That’s probably why I dated Steph. In a way, I thought she was the way to be part of it, but it’s not the family I want part of. I want to be your family.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you how I feel but—” — “No, I should have told you how I felt before it got here.” — “How you felt?” — “How I feel. How I’ve always felt.” (Girl stop)
“This is a glimpse into the rest of my life, isn’t it?” — “Only if you’re lucky.”
“He has no idea how into him I am, and I’m going to make it my life’s mission to show him just what he does to me every single day.”
“You gave me a safe space to be myself before I even knew what that meant. You stood up for me to every team we played on together. You never let anyone treat me different or call me a slur, and you made them see me for the player I was, not some ignorant definition of masculinity. You gave me a home before I ever gave you one.” — “You’re my home, too. You always have been.” (😭😭)
“I hate how much I want him. But I never want the feeling to go away.”
“Breathe. I got you.” — “You always have.”
“I’m so in love with him, and it hits me like a ton of bricks. I’ve never loved anyone in my life. And I think I’ve been in love with him for a long time.”
“I honestly didn’t think I could love you more.” — “You don’t have to say it just because I did.” “I know this is early.” — “It’s not early. I’ve been in love with you since high school.”
“I never would have held it against you. But I do want you. I want only you.” — “I want only you too.”
“Everything we faced together showed me there is no one else I want by my side for the highs and the lows. Nothing bad touches me knowing I go home to you. Waking up with you next to me is the greatest joy I’ve ever experienced. You have been my only family for a long time, and I’m so in love with you, carrying it makes my chest feel like it’s going to crack if I try to contain it any longer. I want to be your husband.”
“You’re not allowed to leave me. You are stuck with me now. I’m in love, and you are mine.”
“Archangel, I’ve been in love with you as long as I can remember. This last year has been the happiest of my life, and I need you by my side. Will you be my husband?” — “”Yes,” I barely get out without losing it.”
“How did I not know I was in love with him all this time? It still blows me away.”
“Will you do me the honor of being my husband?” — “Archangel holds out the ring. The way my heart reacts to his words. I lift my hand, allowing him to slide the ring home. He’s my home.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2026
Amazon
Wilder Archangel "Angel" has been in love with his straight best friend Atticus Wolfe forever it seems. Angel's watched as Wolfe dated Angel's sister, had his heart broken by her, and then only had hookups with women after in a bid to keep his heart from being broken again. But now said sister is getting married, and Angel needs a date for her wedding. Wolfe offering to come as Angel's fake date seems a little like poetic justice, but Angel can't forget it's fake. Wolfe is straight, right?
Wolfe is attached at the hip to his best friend, Angel, and doesn't want to think about how that will change once he's drafted. For now, though, offering up himself as Angel's fake date to Wolfe's cheating ex's (and Angel's sister) wedding will not only serve as a way to prove to said ex that he's not worried about her any longer, it will also be more time spent with Angel. He didn't foresee that his feelings for Angel would evolve, and now he's wondering if he's always had more than friendly feelings for Angel and just didn't realize it. He doesn't care that he's never been with a guy before, he now knows how he really feels for Wolfe. No one's going to stifle his feelings and he's not about to deny those feelings, regardless of what his awful father says or anyone else in the league.
These two friends to more are adorable, clueless at times, but adorable. The way their friendship evolved was just so natural and seamless (and hot!), and I was rooting for them from the first page. Wolfe is probably my favorite with the way he didn't question how his feelings had evolved, and that he didn't want to hide how he felt either, from anyone. Angel is the one who questioned, not himself, but Wolfe, but Wolfe was more than up to the challenge to prove to him that his feelings were real. The guys also have a whole crew around them that are the kind of found family we all wish we had, and I'm really excited to read their stories as they are released.
ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75/5 ⭐
A Puck Between Friends is the third book in J.R. Gray’s Gods Versus Monsters Hockey series. I think you could enjoy this book as a standalone, but if you want full insight into the team and league dynamics, you’ll want to start at the beginning. Here’s what you can expect from Wolfe and Archangel:
💚 MM contemporary romance
💚 First person dual point of view
💚 Guaranteed happily ever after
💚 Open door spice
💚 College hockey
💚 Fake dating
💚 Childhood best friends
💚 Bisexual awakening
💚 Idiots to lovers
💚 Goalie
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
I have been ready for Archangel and Wolfe’s happily ever after once we got the vibes from them in Two Guys One Puck. And their story absolutely didn’t disappoint. Childhood lovers to best friends can be a difficult trope to execute because I feel sometimes you lose that juicy relationship development, but I found we weren’t lacking in that here. What we did get was two best friends who were practically dating, but just didn’t quite realize it (enter idiots to lovers). Their relationship was just so beautiful, deep, and soulful. There was so much I loved in this book, but a couple things I want to focus on. First was Archangel’s representation. I’ve read lots of hockey books, but I find hockey players just aren’t written like him and I really appreciated the representation. He is out, he is proud, and he unapologetically presents himself to the world as a gay man with some traits that would be traditionally considered “feminine” (including his voice), but he’s also a hell of a hockey player. I just love that those two things can co-exist for him. The second was Wolfe’s bisexuality. Although Wolfe takes it in stride, Archangel and some of his teammates are the ones that struggled with reconciling those sides of him.
I adored these two. Their story flew by and I was really disappointed when I’d have to put their book down. I could’ve read more chapters of them. The spice between them was phenomenal. Their roller skating date had me kicking my feet, while the spice had me blushing at times. And their happily ever after was just so sweet and well-deserved, with the right characters getting the justice they more than deserved. I’m looking forward to continuing this series!
I received an advanced review copy of this book from The Author Agency and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Puck Between Friends is the third book in J.R. Gray’s Gods Versus Monsters Hockey series. I think you could enjoy this book as a standalone, but if you want full insight into the team and league dynamics, you’ll want to start at the beginning. Here’s what you can expect from Wolfe and Archangel:
💚 MM contemporary romance
💚 First person dual point of view
💚 Guaranteed happily ever after
💚 Open door spice
💚 College hockey
💚 Fake dating
💚 Childhood best friends
💚 Bisexual awakening
💚 Idiots to lovers
💚 Goalie
Ensure you review the content and trigger warnings to decide if this book is right for you. Note this list of warnings may be incomplete. Please take care of yourself while reading.
I have been ready for Archangel and Wolfe’s happily ever after once we got the vibes from them in Two Guys One Puck. And their story absolutely didn’t disappoint. Childhood lovers to best friends can be a difficult trope to execute because I feel sometimes you lose that juicy relationship development, but I found we weren’t lacking in that here. What we did get was two best friends who were practically dating, but just didn’t quite realize it (enter idiots to lovers). Their relationship was just so beautiful, deep, and soulful. There was so much I loved in this book, but a couple things I want to focus on. First was Archangel’s representation. I’ve read lots of hockey books, but I find hockey players just aren’t written like him and I really appreciated the representation. He is out, he is proud, and he unapologetically presents himself to the world as a gay man with some traits that would be traditionally considered “feminine” (including his voice), but he’s also a hell of a hockey player. I just love that those two things can co-exist for him. The second was Wolfe’s bisexuality. Although Wolfe takes it in stride, Archangel and some of his teammates are the ones that struggled with reconciling those sides of him.
I adored these two. Their story flew by and I was really disappointed when I’d have to put their book down. I could’ve read more chapters of them. The spice between them was phenomenal. Their roller skating date had me kicking my feet, while the spice had me blushing at times. And their happily ever after was just so sweet and well-deserved, with the right characters getting the justice they more than deserved. I’m looking forward to continuing this series!
I received an advanced review copy of this book from The Author Agency and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4 stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ A Puck Between Friends☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 “All I want to get is, a little bit closer. All I want to know is, can you come a little closer?” 🎶
Agreeing to fake date his best friend Wolfe (H) as revenge at his sister’s wedding seems harmless, until buried feelings resurface. Archangel (H) has been in love with Wolfe for years, and what was meant to be a joke quickly becomes complicated when their chemistry turns impossible to ignore. With family expectations, rival hockey tensions, and secrets piling up, their pretend relationship begins to feel all too real. As the line between friendship and something more blurs, he must face the risk of losing Wolfe or finally telling the truth.
🤍•.¸✿¸.•💌•.❀•THOUGHTS •❀.•💌•.¸✿¸.•🤍
Wolfe and Archangel 🥹 OH MY LOVES. This was my first MM in a long time, aside from MM in a why choose with an FMC, and they completely won me over. The level of care and gentleness from both of them was everything. Wolf is used to affection and loves physical touch, so when Angel started distancing himself because he cared for Wolfe as more than a best friend, Wolf was hurt. I ADORE THEM. It was a little frustrating that Angel kept denying Wolf’s admissions of bisexuality, but I also think it came from a place of not understanding. He felt like he was in denial about Wolfe’s feelings and thought he might be making it up in his head, so he refused to believe that Wolfe could genuinely feel something for him outside of their fake dating agreement. Meanwhile, Wolfe came to understand his sexuality pretty quickly. He didn’t really struggle with it. He accepted it, embraced it, and was proud to admit it openly. He wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed, and he didn’t try to hide it. He just fully stepped into who he was, and I loved that, especially because he wasn’t ashamed to be with Angel. He loved everything about him, and the fact that Angel had been his best friend from the start made it even more beautiful. Their relationship felt so unique because they just understood each other. There was no shame, just a desire to be together and learn together, and it was gentle, sweet, and everything you could want and more.
There’s also that found family connection between Wolfe, Angel, and all their teammates. They weren’t upset because of who they were, they were upset that it was kept a secret. Not because they would have judged them, but because they saw themselves as family and thought they could be trusted. That part was a little disheartening, but I also understand why Wolf and Angel kept it to themselves at first. Once everything came out, though, it was so beautiful to see how accepting everyone was. I especially loved Angel’s friendship with Seaborn. He was adorable, and the way they talked about their sexuality, with Angel giving him advice about his feelings, felt so natural. That kind of friendship made the book feel warm and lighthearted, even with the heavier elements like their terrible parents and everything they were working through. I also loved how open Wolf was to being with a man despite identifying as straight his entire life. The way he came to terms with his feelings for Angel felt natural. He didn’t shy away from it. If he wanted something, he explored it, and even when he didn’t fully understand it, he still embraced it. He didn’t struggle much with going from straight to bisexual, it just felt like a natural progression because of how strongly he felt for Archangel. He didn’t let labels stop him from being in love, and that was one of my favorite things about him.
He was also so openly in love and just wanted to be with Archangel, marry him, and be his husband. The way he kept repeating it was so entertaining and lovable. They’re adorable because they’re all in with each other, no hesitation and no wasted time. I do wish the proposal had been more personal instead of happening at his sister’s ceremony because I wanted something more intimate for them, but I also understand why they did it. It was about showing her that their relationship was real, that they made it, and that she couldn’t ruin them, and honestly I kind of loved that message. I also liked that Mark ended up being part of their friend group, that he apologized, and that he’s divorcing Archangel’s sister. That whole situation worked out better than expected, especially since she was terrible anyway. It was so sweet and so interesting watching Wolfe come to terms with falling in love with his best friend while Archangel struggled to believe those feelings were real. Even when Angel was denying it, it didn’t feel malicious. He wasn’t trying to be biphobic, he was just overwhelmed and struggling to understand how the person he had loved his whole life could actually feel the same way, so he pulled away because he was scared it wouldn’t last and that Wolfe might regret it if things became physical.
🤍•.¸✿¸.•💌•.❀•OVERALL •❀.•💌•.¸✿¸.•🤍
I genuinely think I’m about to go down an MM romance spiral now because this one hit. The only downside for me was the use of the term “puck bunny” and how women were kind of villainized throughout the story because of what one person, Angel’s sister, did to Wolfe.
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ A Puck Between Friends☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´
🎶 “All I want to get is, a little bit closer. All I want to know is, can you come a little closer?” 🎶
Agreeing to fake date his best friend Wolfe (H) as revenge at his sister’s wedding seems harmless, until buried feelings resurface. Archangel (H) has been in love with Wolfe for years, and what was meant to be a joke quickly becomes complicated when their chemistry turns impossible to ignore. With family expectations, rival hockey tensions, and secrets piling up, their pretend relationship begins to feel all too real. As the line between friendship and something more blurs, he must face the risk of losing Wolfe or finally telling the truth.
🤍•.¸✿¸.•💌•.❀•THOUGHTS •❀.•💌•.¸✿¸.•🤍
Wolfe and Archangel 🥹 OH MY LOVES. This was my first MM in a long time, aside from MM in a why choose with an FMC, and they completely won me over. The level of care and gentleness from both of them was everything. Wolf is used to affection and loves physical touch, so when Angel started distancing himself because he cared for Wolfe as more than a best friend, Wolf was hurt. I ADORE THEM. It was a little frustrating that Angel kept denying Wolf’s admissions of bisexuality, but I also think it came from a place of not understanding. He felt like he was in denial about Wolfe’s feelings and thought he might be making it up in his head, so he refused to believe that Wolfe could genuinely feel something for him outside of their fake dating agreement. Meanwhile, Wolfe came to understand his sexuality pretty quickly. He didn’t really struggle with it. He accepted it, embraced it, and was proud to admit it openly. He wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed, and he didn’t try to hide it. He just fully stepped into who he was, and I loved that, especially because he wasn’t ashamed to be with Angel. He loved everything about him, and the fact that Angel had been his best friend from the start made it even more beautiful. Their relationship felt so unique because they just understood each other. There was no shame, just a desire to be together and learn together, and it was gentle, sweet, and everything you could want and more.
There’s also that found family connection between Wolfe, Angel, and all their teammates. They weren’t upset because of who they were, they were upset that it was kept a secret. Not because they would have judged them, but because they saw themselves as family and thought they could be trusted. That part was a little disheartening, but I also understand why Wolf and Angel kept it to themselves at first. Once everything came out, though, it was so beautiful to see how accepting everyone was. I especially loved Angel’s friendship with Seaborn. He was adorable, and the way they talked about their sexuality, with Angel giving him advice about his feelings, felt so natural. That kind of friendship made the book feel warm and lighthearted, even with the heavier elements like their terrible parents and everything they were working through. I also loved how open Wolf was to being with a man despite identifying as straight his entire life. The way he came to terms with his feelings for Angel felt natural. He didn’t shy away from it. If he wanted something, he explored it, and even when he didn’t fully understand it, he still embraced it. He didn’t struggle much with going from straight to bisexual, it just felt like a natural progression because of how strongly he felt for Archangel. He didn’t let labels stop him from being in love, and that was one of my favorite things about him.
He was also so openly in love and just wanted to be with Archangel, marry him, and be his husband. The way he kept repeating it was so entertaining and lovable. They’re adorable because they’re all in with each other, no hesitation and no wasted time. I do wish the proposal had been more personal instead of happening at his sister’s ceremony because I wanted something more intimate for them, but I also understand why they did it. It was about showing her that their relationship was real, that they made it, and that she couldn’t ruin them, and honestly I kind of loved that message. I also liked that Mark ended up being part of their friend group, that he apologized, and that he’s divorcing Archangel’s sister. That whole situation worked out better than expected, especially since she was terrible anyway. It was so sweet and so interesting watching Wolfe come to terms with falling in love with his best friend while Archangel struggled to believe those feelings were real. Even when Angel was denying it, it didn’t feel malicious. He wasn’t trying to be biphobic, he was just overwhelmed and struggling to understand how the person he had loved his whole life could actually feel the same way, so he pulled away because he was scared it wouldn’t last and that Wolfe might regret it if things became physical.
🤍•.¸✿¸.•💌•.❀•OVERALL •❀.•💌•.¸✿¸.•🤍
I genuinely think I’m about to go down an MM romance spiral now because this one hit. The only downside for me was the use of the term “puck bunny” and how women were kind of villainized throughout the story because of what one person, Angel’s sister, did to Wolfe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
4.25 Stars!
I read this book without reading the others in the series and loved it. Since finishing this one, I have gone back and started reading from the beginning to get the other couples' stories. Wolf and Angel have been best friends for a very long time. Angel has been in love with his best friend for at least half of that time, but kept it to himself. It was clear that as soon as Wolf decided to attend Angel's sister's wedding, things would get complicated.
There were so many times that I wanted someone to point out the obvious to Wolf and Angel. I could totally understand why Wolf made the choices he did about the wedding, but he clearly didn't think it through. Meanwhile, Angel's reservations and fears were pretty justified and understandable for most of the book. I really liked both Wolf and Angel and was so happy that things worked out for them in the end.
On the outside, Wolf seemed so at ease and happy, but he had a lot of pain that he hid from everyone. The little we learned about his childhood sounded awful, but I felt like a lot of his backstory was missing or just hinted at, which I felt downplayed his trauma and reactions to Angel's withdrawal. I was glad that Angel helped him as best he could throughout all of it. I loved how protective Wolf and Angel were of each other, and watching Wolf become possessive of Angel without recognizing that Angel might mean more to him than just a best friend was fun. There were some conversations I wished they would have had sooner, but I could understand why Angel didn't want to be that vulnerable, even to his best friend. These two were fantastic as friends and even better as lovers, especially after they both cleared the air about what was happening between them. I loved the banter and jokes between them.
I can't imagine having to grow up with Angel's mother and sister, let alone so many of his other relatives. I loved his grandfather and was glad they both had him in their corner. The close bonds of everyone on the hockey team were wonderful to see. I was super happy that Michael finally believed Wolf and Angel, no matter how much it must have hurt. I hope that we will get more books in this series now that I've gotten a start in it.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement.*
I read this book without reading the others in the series and loved it. Since finishing this one, I have gone back and started reading from the beginning to get the other couples' stories. Wolf and Angel have been best friends for a very long time. Angel has been in love with his best friend for at least half of that time, but kept it to himself. It was clear that as soon as Wolf decided to attend Angel's sister's wedding, things would get complicated.
There were so many times that I wanted someone to point out the obvious to Wolf and Angel. I could totally understand why Wolf made the choices he did about the wedding, but he clearly didn't think it through. Meanwhile, Angel's reservations and fears were pretty justified and understandable for most of the book. I really liked both Wolf and Angel and was so happy that things worked out for them in the end.
On the outside, Wolf seemed so at ease and happy, but he had a lot of pain that he hid from everyone. The little we learned about his childhood sounded awful, but I felt like a lot of his backstory was missing or just hinted at, which I felt downplayed his trauma and reactions to Angel's withdrawal. I was glad that Angel helped him as best he could throughout all of it. I loved how protective Wolf and Angel were of each other, and watching Wolf become possessive of Angel without recognizing that Angel might mean more to him than just a best friend was fun. There were some conversations I wished they would have had sooner, but I could understand why Angel didn't want to be that vulnerable, even to his best friend. These two were fantastic as friends and even better as lovers, especially after they both cleared the air about what was happening between them. I loved the banter and jokes between them.
I can't imagine having to grow up with Angel's mother and sister, let alone so many of his other relatives. I loved his grandfather and was glad they both had him in their corner. The close bonds of everyone on the hockey team were wonderful to see. I was super happy that Michael finally believed Wolf and Angel, no matter how much it must have hurt. I hope that we will get more books in this series now that I've gotten a start in it.
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement.*
April 4, 2026
Here's JR Gray "A Puck Between Friends." It's the third book in the Gods Versus Monsters Hockey series.
["When my best friend offers to come as my date to my sister’s wedding to get back at my sister for breaking his heart, I agree thinking it will be hilarious. What I didn’t consider was that I’ve been in love with him half my life, and all the consequences of us fake dating.
My family demands I bring my new boyfriend to her shower first, and things only go downhill from there. My sister is marrying the goalie from our rival team who immediately is up in arms about us dating.
Fair, but I don’t have time to dwell on it as things quickly get weird with my best friend. Wolfe is straight, it shouldn’t be weird right? It’s fake after all. But I’m so wrong. He kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before, and then we both realize we have to keep this up for months until the wedding.
Between the unexpected sexual tension, hockey, and the secrets we are keeping. I don’t know how we’re going to get through the season."]
The I'm-in-love-with-my-best-friend hurt/comfort trope hits hard. Just as hard as the himbo-who-loves-his-best-friend-but-doesn't-know-it.
But these two?! They were worth all of the hurt/comfort and awkwardness and lack of communication. They were worth the toxic family and nosey teammates. They were worth it, because all of the fluff and sweetness and feeling of home and deep chemistry.
Trigger Warnings: alcohol used to cope, panic attack, anxiety surrounding medial providers, hate crime mentioned, homophobic family, sports-based homophboia, hi-erasure, parental abuse hinted, parental physical abuse mentioned, no contact with a neglectful parent, contact with an abusive parent under duress, mention of MC kicked out as teen, neglect is ignored by non-custodial parent, discussion of physical abuse from parent's intimate partner, mentions of CPS used as a threat, mention of bulling by sibling, death of abuser, parent stalking and keeping tabs on adult child, past cheating ex-gf, on-ice injury, abuse of power, police abusing their power, and more.
#nopucks #twoguysonepuck #apuckbetweenfriends #puckaroundandfindout #jrgray #godsversusmonstershockey #godsversusmonstershockeyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
["When my best friend offers to come as my date to my sister’s wedding to get back at my sister for breaking his heart, I agree thinking it will be hilarious. What I didn’t consider was that I’ve been in love with him half my life, and all the consequences of us fake dating.
My family demands I bring my new boyfriend to her shower first, and things only go downhill from there. My sister is marrying the goalie from our rival team who immediately is up in arms about us dating.
Fair, but I don’t have time to dwell on it as things quickly get weird with my best friend. Wolfe is straight, it shouldn’t be weird right? It’s fake after all. But I’m so wrong. He kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before, and then we both realize we have to keep this up for months until the wedding.
Between the unexpected sexual tension, hockey, and the secrets we are keeping. I don’t know how we’re going to get through the season."]
The I'm-in-love-with-my-best-friend hurt/comfort trope hits hard. Just as hard as the himbo-who-loves-his-best-friend-but-doesn't-know-it.
But these two?! They were worth all of the hurt/comfort and awkwardness and lack of communication. They were worth the toxic family and nosey teammates. They were worth it, because all of the fluff and sweetness and feeling of home and deep chemistry.
Trigger Warnings: alcohol used to cope, panic attack, anxiety surrounding medial providers, hate crime mentioned, homophobic family, sports-based homophboia, hi-erasure, parental abuse hinted, parental physical abuse mentioned, no contact with a neglectful parent, contact with an abusive parent under duress, mention of MC kicked out as teen, neglect is ignored by non-custodial parent, discussion of physical abuse from parent's intimate partner, mentions of CPS used as a threat, mention of bulling by sibling, death of abuser, parent stalking and keeping tabs on adult child, past cheating ex-gf, on-ice injury, abuse of power, police abusing their power, and more.
#nopucks #twoguysonepuck #apuckbetweenfriends #puckaroundandfindout #jrgray #godsversusmonstershockey #godsversusmonstershockeyseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
April 9, 2026
Angel has been in love with his straight best friend, Wolfe, for forever. Since way before his sister dated him, and then broke Wolfe's heart. It's fine. He's dealing with it. But now his sister is getting married, and he doesn't want to go to the wedding and deal with his family's homophobic bullshit on his own. So, Wolfe volunteers to pretend they're dating and go with him. Angel gets to have someone on his side around while dealing with his family and Wolfe gets a little revenge on Angel's sister. A win-win.
But then Angel's sister says he can't have a plus one to the wedding unless he brings his boyfriend to the shower for her to meet him first. Which means they're going to have to keep up the fake dating charade for a lot longer than they originally planned. Wolfe insists it won't bother him to keep up the ruse (and therefore go without sex) for that long, but Angel worries it will start to bother his best friend for a while. (And that he won't survive fake dating someone he has real feelings for that long.)
I loved the concept and the plot of this book, but I didn't think it was as well executed as it could have been. I found it a little hard to follow at times. I frequently found myself confused about who was speaking, and a few times I just didn't have any clue what was happening in a scene. This might have been a me problem, but it's not a problem I tend to have when reading.
I did enjoy the fake dating aspect and all the delicious tropey goodness that came along with it. I love it when characters that are fake dating insist they have practice kissing, and then keep coming up with reasons to practice again. I love when they have to share a bed because obviously people who think you're dating are only going to give you one room.
And I liked the dynamic between the main characters. I did think Angel's denial over Wolfe being bisexual got a little old when Wolfe kept telling him he was, but other than that the two of them were great. I loved how protective they were of each other, and how possessive Wolfe was, and that they'd been each other's number one person for years.
Tropes:
🏒 friends to lovers
🏒 fake dating
🏒 practice kissing
🏒 only one bed
🏒 bi-awakening
🏒 sister's ex boyfriend
🏒 jealousy/posessiveness
But then Angel's sister says he can't have a plus one to the wedding unless he brings his boyfriend to the shower for her to meet him first. Which means they're going to have to keep up the fake dating charade for a lot longer than they originally planned. Wolfe insists it won't bother him to keep up the ruse (and therefore go without sex) for that long, but Angel worries it will start to bother his best friend for a while. (And that he won't survive fake dating someone he has real feelings for that long.)
I loved the concept and the plot of this book, but I didn't think it was as well executed as it could have been. I found it a little hard to follow at times. I frequently found myself confused about who was speaking, and a few times I just didn't have any clue what was happening in a scene. This might have been a me problem, but it's not a problem I tend to have when reading.
I did enjoy the fake dating aspect and all the delicious tropey goodness that came along with it. I love it when characters that are fake dating insist they have practice kissing, and then keep coming up with reasons to practice again. I love when they have to share a bed because obviously people who think you're dating are only going to give you one room.
And I liked the dynamic between the main characters. I did think Angel's denial over Wolfe being bisexual got a little old when Wolfe kept telling him he was, but other than that the two of them were great. I loved how protective they were of each other, and how possessive Wolfe was, and that they'd been each other's number one person for years.
Tropes:
🏒 friends to lovers
🏒 fake dating
🏒 practice kissing
🏒 only one bed
🏒 bi-awakening
🏒 sister's ex boyfriend
🏒 jealousy/posessiveness
April 2, 2026
This was my first time reading anything by J.R. Gray, so although this is the 3rd book in the Gods vs Monsters Hockey series, I am so excited to go back and read the first two!
Angel is an openly gay hockey player on the Gods college team who has been in love with his straight best friend and teammate, Wolfe, since they were kids. When Angel needs a date for his sister's upcoming wedding festivities that he is not looking forward to, Wolfe volunteers to be his fake boyfriend to help him put up with his toxic family.
This book was hot! Pretty quickly they test the waters of their "fake" relationship and see how much they both want to cross those lines. Wolfe realizes he's not as straight as he thought and his openness to trying out what that looks like with Angel was so good. The two of them also have such a strong friendship and take really good care to maintain that relationship first and foremost - they both need, love, and respect each other so much and that shows throughout the entire book. I loved that while Wolfe was coming to terms with his sexuality, it was accepted by himself and the rest of his team so easily. Even his dad who was the worst didn't stumble once when it came to his changing relationship with Angel. These cuties were lovable idiots at times but they made me laugh and swoon as well. This was such a treat! Looking forward to diving back into the rest of this series, and finding out what's in store for book #4.
Quick note, the conversation that Angel has with Seaborn when he is coming to terms with his own relationship and sexuality was so well done. I absolutely loved reading it. It was super informative but flowed like a natural conversation. Angel kept it light-hearted but it had some emotion to it, and Seaborn was so receptive to everything, and I just really enjoyed that scene. Clearly this author takes great care of the characters in these books, as well as any readers that may come across these topics, so I wanted to make a note about that as well <3
Angel is an openly gay hockey player on the Gods college team who has been in love with his straight best friend and teammate, Wolfe, since they were kids. When Angel needs a date for his sister's upcoming wedding festivities that he is not looking forward to, Wolfe volunteers to be his fake boyfriend to help him put up with his toxic family.
This book was hot! Pretty quickly they test the waters of their "fake" relationship and see how much they both want to cross those lines. Wolfe realizes he's not as straight as he thought and his openness to trying out what that looks like with Angel was so good. The two of them also have such a strong friendship and take really good care to maintain that relationship first and foremost - they both need, love, and respect each other so much and that shows throughout the entire book. I loved that while Wolfe was coming to terms with his sexuality, it was accepted by himself and the rest of his team so easily. Even his dad who was the worst didn't stumble once when it came to his changing relationship with Angel. These cuties were lovable idiots at times but they made me laugh and swoon as well. This was such a treat! Looking forward to diving back into the rest of this series, and finding out what's in store for book #4.
Quick note, the conversation that Angel has with Seaborn when he is coming to terms with his own relationship and sexuality was so well done. I absolutely loved reading it. It was super informative but flowed like a natural conversation. Angel kept it light-hearted but it had some emotion to it, and Seaborn was so receptive to everything, and I just really enjoyed that scene. Clearly this author takes great care of the characters in these books, as well as any readers that may come across these topics, so I wanted to make a note about that as well <3
March 22, 2026
For as long as he can remember, Archangel has been in love with his best friend Wolfe, even when Wolfe dated his sister for two years, before she cheated on him and made him swear off relationships forever. Now his sister is getting married and his Wolfe offers to come posing as his boyfriend for a little payback, and while Archangel agrees, the more time they have to spend posing as lovers, the more the lines start to blur, and when they share what can only describe as the best kiss of his life, he starts to worry whether this ruse will cost him his best friend, or his heart.
After having his heart broken as a freshman in college, Wolfe swore he would never date again, casual hookups are the most he’s allowed himself for four years. But when the chance for a little payback on his ex comes up, he can’t pass it up, especially since she’s marrying the goalie from their biggest rival. After their first weekend of posing as a couple, Wolfe notices Archangel pulling away, and since they’ve taken a vow of celibacy, losing the closeness of his best friend makes it even harder for him to cope. The more time they spend pretending though, the less it starts to feel like pretending, and maybe what Wolfe was looking for was in front of him all along.
I received an early copy of this book from The Author Agency and I absolutely loved it! Wolfe and Archangel were some of my favourite characters in the previous books, and they definitely didn’t disappoint in this one. I couldn’t help but feel for Archangel, who has clearly been in love with Wolfe forever, but has been watching him hookup with women for years, and when he agreed to their charade, he knew he was risking his heart in the equation, but I loved how Wolfe not only fell for him in return, but completely embraced his new identity, not afraid to be out and proud. Between the angst and the hilarious moments, not to mention the ultimate payback, this book is a must read.
After having his heart broken as a freshman in college, Wolfe swore he would never date again, casual hookups are the most he’s allowed himself for four years. But when the chance for a little payback on his ex comes up, he can’t pass it up, especially since she’s marrying the goalie from their biggest rival. After their first weekend of posing as a couple, Wolfe notices Archangel pulling away, and since they’ve taken a vow of celibacy, losing the closeness of his best friend makes it even harder for him to cope. The more time they spend pretending though, the less it starts to feel like pretending, and maybe what Wolfe was looking for was in front of him all along.
I received an early copy of this book from The Author Agency and I absolutely loved it! Wolfe and Archangel were some of my favourite characters in the previous books, and they definitely didn’t disappoint in this one. I couldn’t help but feel for Archangel, who has clearly been in love with Wolfe forever, but has been watching him hookup with women for years, and when he agreed to their charade, he knew he was risking his heart in the equation, but I loved how Wolfe not only fell for him in return, but completely embraced his new identity, not afraid to be out and proud. Between the angst and the hilarious moments, not to mention the ultimate payback, this book is a must read.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I received this book for free for my honest review.
I loved this book! It’s a standalone and can be read without reading the first 2 but it makes me want to go back and read them.
Angel is openly gay on the Gods college hockey team and has been unrequitedly in love with his best friend since high school. His bestie that dated his sister, till she cheated on him. Now she is getting married and Angel needs a date to the wedding.
Wolfe needs his best friend like he needs air. Angel has always been the one solid constant in his life, throughout his shitty childhood with abusive parents, moving in with his family in high school, dating then being cheated on by Angels sister, and going to college together. He doesn’t want to think about what happens after the draft and they won’t live together anymore.
Wolfe volunteers to be Angels “fake” boyfriend for Steph’s wedding. In playing along to stick it to Angels toxic sister and dismissive family, Wolfe realized that he isn’t exactly straight, and may need Angel even more than he thought possible.
I love how both men only have the care and safety of the other in mind and motivations. Angel wants to protect Wolfe’s draft prospects and also literally cannot/does not believe that Wolfe is realizing he is bi and wants Angel. For Wolfe, it’s the most natural thing in the world to accept he is attracted to and ultimately in love with his best friend, and no one, NO ONE, with make him hide his feelings. Angel will always come first.
The boys have great banter, sass, a wonderful team and friend group, and though ultimately semi supportive family with certain ones getting what they deserve in the end.
There is low angst, spice, a very little fem dressing though I wish there was more, and lots of supportive masculine friendships.
I loved this book! It’s a standalone and can be read without reading the first 2 but it makes me want to go back and read them.
Angel is openly gay on the Gods college hockey team and has been unrequitedly in love with his best friend since high school. His bestie that dated his sister, till she cheated on him. Now she is getting married and Angel needs a date to the wedding.
Wolfe needs his best friend like he needs air. Angel has always been the one solid constant in his life, throughout his shitty childhood with abusive parents, moving in with his family in high school, dating then being cheated on by Angels sister, and going to college together. He doesn’t want to think about what happens after the draft and they won’t live together anymore.
Wolfe volunteers to be Angels “fake” boyfriend for Steph’s wedding. In playing along to stick it to Angels toxic sister and dismissive family, Wolfe realized that he isn’t exactly straight, and may need Angel even more than he thought possible.
I love how both men only have the care and safety of the other in mind and motivations. Angel wants to protect Wolfe’s draft prospects and also literally cannot/does not believe that Wolfe is realizing he is bi and wants Angel. For Wolfe, it’s the most natural thing in the world to accept he is attracted to and ultimately in love with his best friend, and no one, NO ONE, with make him hide his feelings. Angel will always come first.
The boys have great banter, sass, a wonderful team and friend group, and though ultimately semi supportive family with certain ones getting what they deserve in the end.
There is low angst, spice, a very little fem dressing though I wish there was more, and lots of supportive masculine friendships.
April 1, 2026
Angel & Wolfe own my heart
J.R. Gray's Gods Versus Monsters series is one of my favourites, and A PUCK BEYWEEN FRIENDS is another marvellous addition. This best friends, fake dating, bi-awakening, college hockey, MM romance was humourous, emotional and had me totally hooked.
Archangel 'Angel' has crushed on his best friend Wolfe for years. Angel is openly gay and has been for years, while Wolfe is straight. Angel is such a beautiful soul, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Wolfe is a known playboy who has sworn off relationships after being cheated on by his ex. When Angel is required to return home for his sister's wedding who happens to be Wolfe's ex, there is a condition ... he has to bring his boyfriend, leading to Wolfe devising a devilsh plan.
I adored Angel and Wolfe, and when fake dating became part of their friendship neither could have realised what the outcome would be. They had fantastic chemistry due to being friends for so long, and I loved that it made Wolfe see that Angel had become his safe place, his person. The banter, tension, togetherness of them made me both laugh and shed a tear, but it was their emotions which really won my heart.
J.R. Gray has delivered another absolute must read. A friends to lovers romance which pulled on my heartstrings while also making me smile and laugh. It had everything I have come to love from J.R.'s writing, friendship, camaradarie of teammates, tons of emotions, plenty of laughter, family tension, and delicious steam. It was a book I couldn't put down.
Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS
J.R. Gray's Gods Versus Monsters series is one of my favourites, and A PUCK BEYWEEN FRIENDS is another marvellous addition. This best friends, fake dating, bi-awakening, college hockey, MM romance was humourous, emotional and had me totally hooked.
Archangel 'Angel' has crushed on his best friend Wolfe for years. Angel is openly gay and has been for years, while Wolfe is straight. Angel is such a beautiful soul, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Wolfe is a known playboy who has sworn off relationships after being cheated on by his ex. When Angel is required to return home for his sister's wedding who happens to be Wolfe's ex, there is a condition ... he has to bring his boyfriend, leading to Wolfe devising a devilsh plan.
I adored Angel and Wolfe, and when fake dating became part of their friendship neither could have realised what the outcome would be. They had fantastic chemistry due to being friends for so long, and I loved that it made Wolfe see that Angel had become his safe place, his person. The banter, tension, togetherness of them made me both laugh and shed a tear, but it was their emotions which really won my heart.
J.R. Gray has delivered another absolute must read. A friends to lovers romance which pulled on my heartstrings while also making me smile and laugh. It had everything I have come to love from J.R.'s writing, friendship, camaradarie of teammates, tons of emotions, plenty of laughter, family tension, and delicious steam. It was a book I couldn't put down.
Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction
✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS
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