Afterglow

Ottawa Regents #3

by Ruby Rana

Fletcher
Nine years as a center on the Ottawa Regents and I’ve got nearly nothing to show for it. Sure, we won a few championships, but not recently. My teammates don’t seem to be bothered by the fear that we’ve peaked. They’re still leaders in the league and off the ice and have adoring wives and beautiful children to come home to.

Me? I’m a failure to launch in both my career and love life.

These days, all I’m good at is getting lost in a book and admiring Behraz Irani from afar.

She’s a perfect, unreachable fantasy, a social butterfly with pure joy sparking in her bright eyes. Our paths often cross through mutual friends and the thought of speaking to her gives me heart palpitations.

But when she runs into me with her bike, it stops my heart entirely.

Behraz
Life seems to enjoy taking me for a joy ride after my family moves abroad. It’s bad enough that I drain my savings only to fail the bar exam three times, but discovering my academic woes are likely due to a newly diagnosed learning disability and ADHD, then getting evicted from my latest sublease is an unexpected double-whammy.

Then I go and maim the hottest player on my hometown’s NHL team: Fletcher Donovan.

I’ve given him a severe concussion and somehow, I’m the only adult available during his recovery. This isn’t how I imagined spending time with the man of my dreams, but desperate times call for desperate temporary housing, and living together is far from the worst thing that could happen.

In fact, it might be the best choice I’ve ever made.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Hockey Romance, Sports, He Falls First

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2025

About the author

Ruby Rana is an elder millennial who writes spicy, funny and heartfelt romance about sassy brown girls. She excels in sending messages where autocorrect has gone terribly wrong.

When she's not battling typos, you can find her explaining Midwestern slang to her East Coast-raised husband, being used as a jungle gym by her young children or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Reviews

[Cydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Afterglow is centered around Fletcher and Behraz, two people in a shared social circle who've crushed on each other from afar for years but have never gotten close enough to make it count. After literally crashing into each other, they are somewhat forced to be in close proximity with one another, and they go from friends to lovers fast!

I really enjoyed the friend group/found family aspect of this story, especially since both Fletch and Bea had quite terrible families LOL. I definitely want to read the first two books in this series because I really connected with both FMCs while reading Bea and Fletch's story. Indi, Gabe, and Bea's sisterhood really shone, and I always enjoy when romance novels emphasize deep platonic relationships.

The romance dominates here, and I enjoyed it. While I did find the pacing between when they went from deciding to officially date and professing their love for one another to be fast, I also was kind of into it LOL, it worked for them. Something about these two felt unhinged in the best way! Fletcher was simping so hard and Bea was always ready to cut somebody (literally) Idk I had fun!!

However, I had a couple gripes with the execution of this book—namely that there's not quite a plot. The romance is the main focus here, which is fine in a romance book! But I felt like the personal development for both MCs were stunted by focusing too much on the minutiae of them cohabitating. While I adored the adult ADHD diagnosis storyline of Bea's immensely, I didn't care much about her passing the bar, because it happens mostly in the background, and her heart doesn't seem in it. Fletch was completely emotionally disconnected from being a professional hockey player—which is fine, because that's his job, and you're allowed to not feel passionate about your job—except why keep putting your body through that just to make some money? He seemed kind of ambitiousless at times, which was such a shame because he was such a kind, loverboy of a man. I also think I realized it is a personal preference of mine to engage with MCs who enjoy what they do for a living because I'd hate for them to not be fulfilled in any area of their lives.

Thank you to Love Notes PR and the author for sending me an ARC!

3.5 ⭐️s
3 🌶️

[Jen ♥]

On hold @ 20%

There's something about the writing style and storytelling that aren't just working for me. I'm obviously not a writer, definitely far from that, but this feels like Wattpad-y in some ways, and I think that's what's taking my focus away. 🫣

Anyway, I might (or not) get back to this book at some point. It always depends on my mood. 😅

[Aeman [semi-ia] · Rating 1 out of 5]

1★ for the guy.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received an ARC for this book)

Trigger Warnings include:
childhood abandonment, discussion of drunk driving that resulted in injury, social anxiety, internalized ableism and the ongoing struggles of being diagnosed with a learning disability and ADHD as an adult. Sexual content includes BDSM and kink exploration between consenting adults

This is hands down the most sweet and simultaneously hottest book I have ever read! Fletcher and Behraz just DO IT for me. (Oh yeah, bi flag is waving in the wind with this one!) Fletcher may be a force to be reckoned with on the ice, but he is a bookworm who collects all things Pokemon and loves being in his own cozy bubble. Bea is a gentle flower who has the alter-ego of a wrecking ball. Fletcher learns that first hand when she runs him over. (I wish I was over-exaggerating.) Although they are in the same friend circle (she’s besties with his teammates’ girls) they have been crushing on each other from afar for years. But not anymore! Now they’re under the same roof, and Fletcher isn’t letting her go anytime soon! It’s precious that he can barely form words around her, and she agrees. She’ll do anything for this man, and that includes exchanging study sessions for dating lessons. Gosh they are adorable! Like, kick my feet giddy adorable! And HOT!!! I was a melted puddle reading this book. Their actions, words. Grade A perfection between them both!!

My Favorite Quotes:
• “You’re no one’s second choice. And definitely not mine.”
• “Maybe we’re saving each other.”
• “I don’t know what I’m doing. But whatever it is, I know I want to be doing it with you.”
• “What if I wanna take care of you?”
• “If we kiss, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop.”
• “You can have all of me. You have all of me.”
• “You can have whatever you want from me. Just say the words. Tell me what you want.”
• “You’re a little bit of a mess. But you’re my mess.”
• “I wasn’t living before you.”
• “You’re everything to me. Everything I ever dreamed of, wished for.”
• “You did so good, sweetheart. F!cked me so good.”
• “I want my days to start and end with you.”
• “I chose you—I’m choosing you. All of you.”

7/10 Dirty Birdy
4/10 Forced Proximity
8/10 Friends to Lovers
3/10 Sports Romance
8/10 Series

This is my review for Snap Shot
This is my review for Butterfly Effect

[Em ౨ৎ (semi-inactive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

another dnf simply because i’m to busy to read, but i promise ill come back to this

‧₊˚ ┊💌┊ ೀ୭ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝

thank you love notes pr for the chance to read and review this 💕💕

[Tesstic00l · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
HELLOOOO ITS SO GOOD WTH. There were a few bits where I thought the pacing could do with a bit more work but overall this was a perfect way for their love story to happen. I love the years of mutual pining that have led here and I just love them as characters because especially Fletcher is so far from the all time successful hockey player and his journey feels real and raw in ways I haven’t seen in hockey romance. Heart hands for Ruby Rana indeed

[taramisu ❀˖° જ⁀➴ ♡ ⋆.˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.3 ⭐️


i lost whatever innocence i had left after chapter 20 😳

[Alise Everton · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading, and loving, Butterfly Effect, I knew I wanted to continue Ruby’s Ottawa Regents series. Talk about an amazing hockey romance series with inclusion. Thank you for an E-ARC!

As expected, I loved the dynamic between Fletcher, our shy mmc, and Bea, our chaotic fmc. They are both messes and trying to navigate the world, but things always seem to be just out of reach. Then after a freak accident, their worlds collide and the spicy lessons start.

This is the perfect book for a woman to read while she’s ovulating because dang is it SPICY. I was sat and swooning over all the lessons that were occurring, and the pottery scene (IYKYK). I would recommend this book on that scene alone.

Not only is Fletcher the sweetest, shy man, but he is also a virgin and while I’ve never really loved the idea of a virgin main character, it really worked here. I was never once grossed out or turned off by the fact that he didn’t have the same experience. That man WORSHIPPED Bea and i ate up every second of it.

Definitely read if you like:
- hockey romance
- mutual pining
- temporary roommates to lovers
- sweet & spicy lessons
- caretaking

[Apoorva Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

& guys!!! Ruby has done it again with this book.

If you want to read a book which is under 300 pages, which includes cozy moments, all the love languages, representations of culture and learning disability, anxiety and awkwardness but also so much love from the friends?? This book should be the one you pick.

I did BETA read of this book and lets just say I was in love with the characters from the very beginning.

one of the other reasons, I loved this book was because I could see my love story in this which was kind of similar in terms of our characteristics.

GUYS PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.

[Moony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the cutest book I have read in awhile! Behraz and Fletcher have secretly liked each other for awhile now but neither knew each that well. That changes when Behraz quite literally runs him over with her bicycle and becomes roommates with Fletcher to take care of him. And that starts the beginning of their slow burn relationship.

Behraz aka Bea is chaotic, experienced and bold while Fletcher is the shy, virgin guy who prefers reading and getting lost in fictional worlds than anything else. I loved the progression of their relationship, how they get to know each other better and their inner thoughts where they get embarrassed without realizing the other likes them very much too. The book has cute date scenes as well as spicy ones too from BDSM to kink exploration. Afterall, it's the shy ones you have to be wary of😁 Fletcher really has it down bad for Bea and can't have enough of her, he's so soft yet at the same time protective of her. I MEAN HE'S BEEN YEARNING FOR HER SINCE 6 YEARS....🥹

The best part was the ending, Fletcher Donovan the man you are, supporting her career and being with her. I think it was a very unique book because it is very rarely that we get to see such chaotic soft shy characters together in a relationship. Usually one is always confident, but here both of them were so unsure about themselves and I loved to see them help each other grow and accept that they're fine the way they are.

This book is the 3rd in the Ottawa Regents series, but can be read as a standalone.

Definitely recommend if you like:
🏒 hockey romance
🌸 slow burn
🏒 mutual pining
🌸 no third act breakup
🏒 temporary roommates to lovers
🌸 south asian diaspora rep
🏒 social anxiety rep

Lastly, I would like to thank the author and Love Notes PR for the ARC.

[Monica (unplugandreadwithme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Love Note PR and to Ruby Rana for the ARC!! Afterglow by Ruby Rana released on August 19, 2025.

I enjoyed Behraz and Fletcher’s shy and sweet relationship! Their story is Book 3 of the Ottawa Regents series, it can be read as a standalone. Behraz and Fletcher have crossed paths before since they have mutual friends but it wasn’t until one day, Behraz bumps into Fletcher (literally) on her bike, it has led them to be in close proximity of each other.

First of all, I love both of their characters! Behraz is late ADHD diganosed and has a learning disability, striving to pass her bar exams but keeps failing. She is struggling with paying rent and trying to survive as an adult - I feel you Behraz! I loved the South Asian representation. Fletcher is a hockey player, who is shy and has some tensions with his family. This book is full of cute moments that make you kick your feet in the air!!

As a Ottawa local, this was the first time that I’ve read a book that featured my hometown!! It was so exciting to read scenes about having a picnic on the Rideau canal, visiting Black Squirrel bookstore and having brunch at Wilf and Ada’s! 🙊 

The only thing is I wanted more scenes/depth with both of their families, especially with them being in an interracial relationship, but overall, it was a heartfluttering story! 4 ⭐️

Tropes:
🏒 Shy crush and mutual pining!
⚖️ Hockey player x Lawyer
📚 Close proximity (unexpected roommate!)
🚲 Spicy lessons
🏒 Dual POV
⚖️ Indian Parsi FMC
📚 Social anxiety, ADHD and learning disability rep

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book 3 of the Ottawa Regents Series!

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Ruby Rana delivers a beautifully tender sports romance in Afterglow, one that’s as much about vulnerability and second chances as it is about love.

Fletcher Donovan has spent nine years as a center for the Ottawa Regents, but where his teammates have thriving careers, families, and stability, Fletcher feels stuck—left behind on and off the ice. His one bright spot? His quiet crush on Behraz Irani, the social butterfly he never thought he’d have a chance with.
Behraz’s life isn’t going as planned either—after multiple setbacks, a learning disability diagnosis, and being evicted, she’s struggling to find her footing. Then a bike accident leaves Fletcher concussed… and Behraz as the only one able to help care for him.

Living together blurs every line. Fletcher gets to see beyond Behraz’s sunny surface, and Behraz begins to understand the quiet depth of the man she once thought unreachable. What starts as caretaking and forced proximity soon turns into late-night talks, laughter, and a romance that feels both fragile and unshakable.

Tropes:
✨Forced Proximity
✨Friends-of-Friends
✨Caretaking
✨Sports Romance (Hockey)
✨Slow Burn

Afterglow is an emotional, character-driven sports romance that proves love isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about patience, compassion, and being truly seen. Fletcher and Behraz’s story is raw, relatable, and ultimately uplifting. If you crave sports romances that lean heavily on heart and healing, Ruby Rana’s Afterglow will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

[Katniss Sainza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes :
🏒 hockey romance
🌸 chaotic, disaster-prone FMC
🏒 shy, virgin MMC
🌸 a man who YEARNS
🏒 failing law student x nhl player helping her study
🌸 temporary roommates to lovers
🌸 mutual pining
🏒 caretaking
🌸 sweet practice dates
🏒 spicy lessons
🌸 size difference
🏒 south asian diaspora rep
🌸 bis*xual rep
🏒 social anxiety rep
🌸 FMC is indian-parsi-canadian
🏒 FMC has a learning disability
🌸 no third act breakup
🏒 standalone in an interconnected series

This is the third book in the Ottawa Regents. I totally enjoyed reading this book. Fletcher and Bea are the cutest couple in the series. I adored their playful banter, their undeniable chemistry, Fletcher’s constant support with Bea’s ADHD, and the tender side of Behraz that shone through. And my my how can I forget the toe curling spice it has 🤭. What makes this series even more special is how it thoughtfully explores topics like learning disabilities and social anxiety in adults, which I found really insightful. Fletcher and Bea balance each other perfectly, making their love story not just heartwarming but also truly beautiful. All in all, it’s a cosy, sweet, and spicy read—one you’ll want to devour in a single sitting!

Thank you, LoveNotes PR and Ruby Rana, for the arc.

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALPHA/BETA REVIEW: If I could give this book a million stars I would. Fletcher and Behraz have been tiptoeing around each other in the same circle without truly crossing paths for years. After some…circumstances…they become roommates. They go from acquaintances to friends to lovers JUST THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!! These two are everything. Ruby has once again outdone herself and written a perfect book. The emotion, the banter, and OHMYGOD THE SPICE 🥵 I hope everyone enjoys these two as much as I have.

ARC: This book seriously only got better. The editing since the beta read was wonderful and the absolute care Ruby put in to make sure each word was chosen carefully is perfection.

FULL REVIEW:
I don't know if I have the words to accurately describe my enormous feelings about this book but here goes. First, this is my favorite hockey series and I will not take any criticism on that. These books have the perfect mix of banter, individual plot lines, off the charts chemistry, found family, and spice. If you haven't read them - you need to.

Since I read Snap Shot, I've always had an inkling about Fletcher and Behraz. They both seemed interested in one another but also too shy to talk to each other. Throughout the first two books we get breadcrumbs and of course the infamous drunk Fletcher line. My anticipation for this book has been through the roof. And let me just say that any expectation I had (literally the only one was that I'd get to read their story one day) was blown out of the water.

Ruby has such a way of evoking emotions through her writing and I am truly the luckiest person alive to have gotten to read this book multiple times already. I don't know how she makes each book so good but she does. Must be magic. The love that Fletcher and Bea have for each other is palpable on every page. What starts off as two shy acquaintances turns into fast friends who support one another and then into a beautiful relationship between two people who help each other thrive. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and made me need a glass of water because DANG IT IS SPICY!! But not only that, it shows readers that you don't need to be blood to be family. On another note, I truly love that Fletcher and Bea's story talks about them being childfree. Childfree representation is few and far between in romance, especially in epilogues. As a childfree person myself, I always feel a little taken aback because not every person's dream is to have babies. Kids are cool and all, but some of us just don't want them. It doesn't make us selfish or weird. It makes us different than the norm and that's okay. But more importantly, childfree rep (to me) shows that you can know true love without having children in romance and it's just as valid.

Afterglow is absolute perfection just like Snap Shot and Butterfly Effect. If I could give it a million stars I would. This series has left it's mark on my soul and I don't know how to ever thank Ruby for the good she's done by writing this series.

Please read this book and the entire series, I'm begging you.

[Briana Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Ruby for letting me be apart of this ARC Team!
Rate: 5/5⭐️
Spice: 1.5/5🌶️

What to expect when reading After Glow;
-Temp roommates x Lovers
-Hockey Romance
-Virgin MMC
-Sweet & Spicy lessons
-Study buddies

This is book three of the Ottawa Regents series! You get to follow Fletcher and Behraz and from chapter one I could not stop laughing! Behraz is like a tornado and then you have Fletcher is an awkward and shy and then you put them together! I enjoyed every second of these two they just melted my heart! If you like romcoms with a hint of slow burn spice this is sooooo for you! This series keeps getting better and better 🙌


Fav Quote:
•”I’m so I focused, I can’t even focus on activities that are supposed to help me focus”
•”I require effort. I require wooing”
•”Okay, you’re a little bit of a mess. But you’re my mess, and I don’t mind it one bit”

Make sure you get your copy of the book when it releases Aug. 19th🩷
#bookstagram #romance #review

[Sabrina | thebookishspot · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ARC Review✨️

4.25⭐️ for Afterglow by Ruby Rana

This was my first book by this author, and even though it's part of a series I read it as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I loved how Fletcher was so completely down bad for Behraz, the pining that man does was just top-notch. I loved that she also had a crush on him too, and they don't play games or tiptoe around their feelings; they both fall hard and aren't afraid to talk about it.

Speaking of talking, the MOUTH on Fletcher! I was not prepared for sweet, shy, anxious Fletcher to have such a dirty mouth in the bedroom, but I was 100% here for it.

I did have some issues with the pacing of the story, and how the spice basically overtakes the plot; I wanted more from the ADHD rep, more of the social anxiety rep, more conflict resolution with Fletcher's family.

Overall, a great and fast read if you're looking for a fun romcom with lots of spice.

Thank you to Love Notes PR for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Sadie Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ (rounded to 5)

As a ginger, we instantly stan having a ginger MMC who’s obsessed right away 🧡 Fletcher is honestly such a cutie — he goes from socially awkward and unsure of himself to blossoming with Behraz’s support, and it’s adorable to watch.

Behraz, newly diagnosed with ADHD and working toward becoming a lawyer, was such a well-written character. Watching Fletcher help her revise?? My heart could not handle it 😭.

Together they’re just so good. Their strengths balance out and they really complement each other in the sweetest ways.

My only critique: the timing at the start felt a little off. For the first two weeks of them living together, there isn’t much depth, and then suddenly they’re friends and agreeing to practice dates. It felt a little rushed/jolty at first — but once they started those practice dates, the pacing smoothed out and the story flowed beautifully.

Overall: a cozy, heart-melting romance with a ginger MMC we all deserve 🧡📚

[IG | TorturedHeroesDept · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

The romance in the book was good. I loved the diversity and sprinkles of knowledges about other cultures.

They had cute moments and the connection was nice but it also just felt physical most of the time.

Plus there was no real story past the romance. I love romance, it’s my favorite genre, but I like for my stories to have more going on. The bar exam doesn’t feel important. Fletch didn’t even really care about hockey. You can’t be a professional hockey player and be ambivalent, it’s far too much of a commitment. He didn’t really have any desires or dreams past Bea and while that’s fine maybe a little drive in life would have made him better.

What you’ll get:
Hockey Player x Aspiring Lawyer
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Friends to Lovers

Thank you to LNPR for the ARC.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ gosh how I love this series! This book for me was a little bit different from all the rest of the books in the series. You see a more vulnerable side of characters and how they feel. As a disclaimer not much of a spoiler but you don’t see as much hockey as the other books. This I feel like allowed me to see more depth in Fletcher and how he is. Really enjoyed Bea and Fletcher together, honestly wish we got some more of them (maybe an extended epilogue?)! Overall really enjoyed the book!

[readerari_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review of After Glow by Ruby Rana
Release date: 19 August 2025 || 📣OUT NOW📣

3.5⭐️
3 🌶️

Lots of swooning and yearning, both the MCs were crushing and obsessing with each other. Spicy, you ask? Yup. The story isn’t complicated, just a simply romantic though I wish there was a bit more depth to how they both liked each other. Overall, this was an easy read and I enjoyed it.

Tropes:
-mental health rep
-hockey romance
-she wears his jersey
-swooning and yearning

Thank you to the author, Ruby Rana, and Love Notes PR for gifting me this eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Caila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah I absolutely crushed this book. I couldn’t put it down. Holy. I enjoyed the pacing (if not the teeeeeeensiest bit fast) but I love Ruby Rana and this is no exception. These giant men falling at the feet of women is exactly my jam

[Shama (thor.oughlyfantasy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[moodreaderjessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are the boys down bad I NEED ALWAYS. The holding hands?? The tension?! The CRUSHING 🥰😳‼️

[carla k · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Liber_Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect blend of cute and spicy!

I absolutely fell in love with Bea and Fletcher! They were so innocent yet not-so-innocent 😏 in their unique ways!!! Highly recommend it!!!

[Notyourmomsshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta Read!
Bee: Ruby did it again y'all. She has such an effortless way of making her characters seem so realistic and natural. One thing that is different that Ruby does with sports romances, is she gives her characters very regular life behavior and lives given their standings in their careers. I love how all-over-the-place Be is/was and how Fletcher honestly wanted to make things so much easier in her life. Their attraction to each other was undeniable. I loved getting their internal thoughts about the other. And the cameos from past characters? *chefs kiss*
Nik: I felt so seen with behraz and her chaotic lil life. I loveddddd how fletch embraced all of her and supported her so that she could be her best self. Like the way he loved her was incredible. we’ve been waiting so long for these two to get together. their story was a fun, full of chemistry and quick paced (I mean depends on how you look at it. Technically a slow burn because Ruby has been giving us bits of them from day oneeee). after glow did not disappoint and I loved every minute.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Ruby Rana’s Afterglow (Ottawa Regents #3), Behraz Irani and NHL hockey center Fletcher Donovan become roommates after she runs into him with her bike, causing him to suffer a severe concussion. Bea moves in with him for a couple of weeks to watch over/care for him. Fletcher daydreams about Bea from afar but gets heart palpitations at the thought of talking to her. He’s the sexy man of her dreams who’s out of her league. Despite their shared, close friends circle, this will be their first time spending one-on-one time together. Can their mutual crushes survive living together once they get to know one another, possibly becoming more?

I couldn't resist reading Afterglow because it's about mutual secret crushes, pining, an interracial romance with a South Asian heroine studying for the bar, a shy hockey player, and forced proximity. My first read of Rana’s didn't disappoint. Rana’s down-to-earth descriptive writing, rich with details and vivid world building, uses the character’s senses and hilarious, colorful dialogue to develop and strengthen Bea and Fletcher’s connection and attraction. I love Rana’s development, evolution, and transition of Bea and Fletcher’s relationship from crushes, to roommates, to friends to lovers, through humorous and adorable banter, and sweet, sensual, emotional, steamy, and intimate interactions and love scenes. You can’t help but root for Rana’s conflicted, complex, relatable, and likable characters to overcome their challenges and obstacles to find happiness and love together.

Fletcher hasn’t been very successful in his NHL career. While he likes hockey, he doesn’t love, live, or breathe it. It’s his brother’s dream, not his. A shy, nerdy introvert with social anxiety, he prefers spending his time reading. From a large family, Fletcher takes advantage of his hockey career to help his family financially and provide for his younger siblings. Parsi/Persian social butterfly Bea is having a rough time since her family’s move abroad. She’s spent her savings taking and failing the bar three times to achieve her dream of becoming a lawyer because of an undiagnosed learning disability and ADHD. Then Bea gets evicted from her sublease, leaving her homeless.

I love Bea and Fletcher. They’re perfect for one another and bring balance to each other's lives by supporting, encouraging, and helping one another to follow their dreams and find belonging. Bea helps calm Fletcher’s social anxiety, makes him feel seen, and no longer alone. Fletcher accepts all of Bea without judgement as no one else in her life does. He quiets the chaos in Bea’s brain and helps her to focus. Bea’s intelligence and memory are aspects of the novel I love–especially because of her interest in practicing law and her determination to do so despite her obstacles. She's resilient. So much more than she knows. Bea and Fletcher believe they’re losers because of how their family treats them and their issues–his social anxiety and her LD and ADHD–but they're both strong, amazing people. And together they give one another emotional support and love, which helps improve their confidence. Fletcher goes from living his life for his brother to living for himself because of his love for Bea. Bea achieves her dreams.

On the same wavelength–Bea and Fletcher’s thirst, desire, longing, and love for each other are genuine. Bea and Fletcher’s relationship is sweet, adorable, and chemistry-filled. My favorite scenes are their practice dates and when they spend time together talking about themselves, family, etc., getting to know each other better. I love how Rana gives them time to become friends before they’re intimate. Afterglow includes a lot of love scenes, but they contribute to Fletcher and Bea’s development and evolution of their relationship and the plot. Their love scenes are funny, sweet, and intensely steamy, sensual, and intimate, displaying how into each other they are before and after they get together. Afterglow doesn’t include much–if any–hockey play, with the focus on Bea and Fletcher’s relationship. Fletcher considers hockey a job/career. Unlike most hockey player heroes, it’s not his life.

Sweet, steamy, hilarious, sexy, and emotional, Afterglow is a fast-paced romance recommended for friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, roommate-to-lovers, dating/sex lessons, pining, and mutual crush fans. It explores themes of belonging, following your dreams, self-discovery, self-esteem, family drama, first love, the South Asian diaspora/culture, anxiety, finding happiness, and falling in love.

Thanks to Ruby Rana and Love Notes PR for the ARC.

Content warnings: (from the author) childhood abandonment, social anxiety, internalized ableism, struggles of adult diagnosis of learning disability and ADHD, graphic sex, BDSM, and kink exploration.

[Nia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This book felt like a tub of the most decadent, delicious vanilla ice cream with a lot of fruits-strawberries, blueberries and all.
It's a fast paced book filled with healing , love and COMMUNICATION!! Hail to communication its sexy-no misunderstanding NO THIRD ARC BREAKUPS.
Whatever lemon lands on their plate-they together ,very maturely decide whether to make lemonade or squeeze in some ass's eye. FANTASTIC

A shy, nerdy hockey player with social anxiety has been unable to make advances towards his crush so imagine his surprise when the said lady accidentally runs him over : leaving him concussed! And now she's his roomate . Moreever they decide to do practice dates to arm them up for the real deal-! How are they going to survive eachother?

“You’re the brightest star in my sky.”

They say God doesn’t choose favorites, but that’s a lie, because Fletcher exists.

💖 Lovely
• I love Fletcher because of how he loved reading and would pick a cozy reading session over socializing.
• Shy nerdy men are my kryptonite.
• He was gentle and supportive . the way he loved behraz. and oh oh the way he was such a good boy, how he always stood up for her , how he really accepted every single part of her.
• I love Behraz because how confident she is - even on days she didnt feel so,she’s so charming, lovely, optimistic, and a beautiful mess. She felt relatable, and I loved how the ADHD representation was handled well. Their dynamic is amazing: he’s the shy one, and she’s the confident goddess, sometimes.
• Lighthhearted cozy read , the writing flowed, and totally bingeable AND also THE PLot- there was no third arc breakup-and it was a well put story that made me totally invested .
• This book had me a blushing mess and the SPOICYYYY scenes-*chef's kiss* total perfection.
• Our Fletchy boy was having the time of his life and their dynamic was unique and so so fun.
• Overall loved the book.

🙃 Unlovely
• I do wished that the author explored more about Behraz's family and their dynamics
But honestly it was a small glitch - I loved the whole thing.
• The stars are my personal feelings dont take it too seriously , It might be different with everyone else.

🌟Favorite Moment
There were so many but the one topping might be-
• When he said -“I love you, Behraz.” “I want my days to start and end with you. And anytime I can’t, at least now I can look down and have a piece of you with me.”
• When she said-I’m never kissing anyone but Fletcher Donovan ever again.

🎭Tropo-logy
• he has a knife kink
• She's pierced
• he got a tatto for her
• crushed on her for years

🌸 Final Thoughts
• A hockey romance with a shy nerdy mmc with social anxiety and his crush- optimistic chatty and a bubbly ray of sunshine of a crush who reduces him to a blushing mess! Filled with so much sweet and quiet love built upon support and encouragement towards each other.
• honestly this was such a comforting book i can see myself revisiting fletchy and bea after a breakdown.
• It has the perfect sweet romcom aesthetics that i adored,
• This is book is for everyone who's up for a cute fun hockey romance WITH COMMUNICATION AND NO THIRD ARC BREAKUP.

📌 What I’ll remember most from this book

“Yes, I do love you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re my joy, Bea. You’re my sunshine on cloudy days.”
“When you smile, every worry, every chest-tightening pressure of my anxiety melts away.”
“I chose you—I’m choosing you. All of you. Chaos, chattiness, unhinged thoughts, everything. I’ll choose you over anyone else, every time.”

✨ Thank you to Ruby Rana and Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Afterglow by Ruby Rana

*thank you to Ruby Rana and LoveNotes PR for access to this ARC*

As a third book in the series, Rana never fails to shake things up with this dynamic of this couple and in general. I loved seeing both of the main characters have this soft sweet spot for the other, how they both had such strong feelings for one another, and their surprise when they find their feelings are mutual. And how falling in love w

I think it’s great to see books represent love as something that can be quiet and tender but just as meaningful. Grand gestures and explosive emotions are great too, but just as many people love quieter and that isn’t a sign of less intent or being less in general.

Another great aspect of the book as are with all of Rana’s books are her inclusions of representation not only for South Asian people but also themes of breaking the stigma surrounding ADHD. I think many adults struggle with being diagnosed later in life and can be a lot to take in. And it’s important to recognize that just because people learn differently doesn’t make them any less good at what they’re doing or any less capable of success. And how it’s not the person who is unable to learn, it’s just they’re not doing it in a way that best suits their needs. And I loved the story highlighted that in Bea’s arc of finding out which study methods make the most sense for her and also accepting that there’s nothing wrong with her. That her ADHD and certain learning disabilities are not signs she’s not meant to succeed. That she persevered despite failing the bar exam more than once.

As for Fletcher, I liked seeing his arc of finding not only his voice but also finding a way to break out of the slump he’s long found himself in. It’s not particularly easy as an adult to find new ways to break through a stagnant career but his story shows it’s never too late to try again. And another part of his story, his inexperience with women and how it should never be treated as something to be made fun of or weird. I personally enjoyed that the author included having the man be less experienced than his female counterpart since there is such an expectation that men should be experienced and that having more experience as a woman is shameful.

The spice of the story is always great, spicy but still full of tenderness that you can legitimately feel the love that’s growing between the characters as they become more intimate.

If there was anything the story could have expanded more on, it would have been great to see more into the individual arcs of Bea and Fletcher. More about Bea exploring and managing her ADHD as she starts working and also working on her feelings about feeling accomplished enough. As for Fletcher, more into how standing up for himself and breaking through his own career issues went after everything. Their story as a couple was lovely to read and definitely the main focus of the story, but would have also loved to read how their individual stories would be going and how being there for one another has helped the other.

Overall this one is a very light and fast read from Ruby Rana but still hits all the right buttons. Adorable characters, a sweet love story, and good spice. Definitely a recommended read for those who want to read about what it feels like when who you’re crushing on actually likes you back.

[modernbooklore ⚡️ olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Chaos, chattiness, unhinged thoughts, everything. I’ll choose you over anyone else, every time.”
—
Rating: 4 ✨
Smut: 2.5 ✨
—
After giving the Ottawa Regents’ centerman a concussion by hitting him with her bike, Behraz Irani ends up living with said centerman. Lucky for her, Fletcher Donovan is just as obsessed with her as she is with him and this forced proximity will finally have them admitting their feelings for each other.

Afterglow is book 3 in the Ottawa Regents series and has, arguably, the two softest characters Ruby Rana has written yet 🥹 Fletcher is a soft spoken, introverted bookworm and Bea is a driven student with ADHD and a learning disability. I loved seeing them navigate their difficulties and their journey to finding where they best fit in this world.

At the forefront of this read was the absolute yearning between these two characters! Ruby Rana did such a fantastic job of showing how little they thought of themselves but just how much they pined for and then loved one another. Even when they didn’t feel worthy of love, they worked so well together and I loved reading about them falling for one another.

Fletcher’s character also did not disappoint: he was an absolute cinnamon roll who gave Bea all the reassurance she needed and who sent the cutest lil gifs in the group chat😩
Bea was also a fantastic character. I loved seeing her fight to get her law degree and the accommodations she needed to succeed. I seriously wanted the world for this girlie and then some.
I would have loved to understand Fletcher a bit better, however. We get bits & pieces of his past but his lower self esteem and complicated relationship with his family and with hockey could have definitely been delved into more. I also would have loved to see more of Bea’s journey as a late diagnosed woman with ADHD.

Overall, this was a soft, feel-good romance with a heavy dose of found family vibes that will have you giggling right along with these two sweet characters.

& if you love:
⚖️🏒 Law student x hockey player
⚖️🏒 Cinnamon roll boyfriend x disaster prone & chaotic girlfriend
⚖️🏒 I saw this and thought of you but make it ✨ extravagant ✨
⚖️🏒 Spicy lessons (she teaches him!)
⚖️🏒 Mutual pining

Then this one is for you♥️ Huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Ruby Rana for this arc!