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Hockey Guys #1
The New Guy - Az új srác
A nevem Hudson Newgate, de a hokis csapattársaim csak új srácnak hívnak. Ez volt a becenevem a Chicagóban is. És a Vancouverben. Ez történik, ha az ember folyton új hokicsapathoz kerül. A Brooklyn az utolsó esélyem, főként a tavalyi gyenge teljesítményem után. De ezúttal menni fog. Az új srác tudja, hogyan húzza meg magát, és hogyan lőjön gólokat. Az új srácnak a csapata az első. Az új srácnak viszont nem kellene összekavarnia a másik új sráccal - a szexi rehabilitációs edzővel, akivel ráadásul egy épületben lakik. Gavinnek nagyon fontos ez az állás a csapatomnál. Egyedül neveli a kislányát. De nem lehetünk egy pár. Az arrogáns ügynököm, aki az apám is egyben, meg fog bolondulni, ha egy pasival járok. A csapatom pedig gólokat vár tőlem, nem médiacirkuszt. Kár, hogy Gavinnel nem tudunk egymásnak ellenállni...
Szurkoljunk együtt Hudsonnak és Gavinnek!
Szereted az érzéki, de tartalmas könyveket?
Vidd haza nyugodtan, tetszeni fog
Fiatal nőknek, felső korhatár nélkül!
Szurkoljunk együtt Hudsonnak és Gavinnek!
Szereted az érzéki, de tartalmas könyveket?
Vidd haza nyugodtan, tetszeni fog
Fiatal nőknek, felső korhatár nélkül!
376 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2023
1007 people are currently reading
13877 people want to read
About the author
Sarina Bowen
105 books18.8k followers
Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!
You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,462 reviews
March 4, 2023
⛔️ Mild spoilers.
I’ve finished this yesterday but I had no idea what to write about it so I took my time. I think this is a good book, probably , but somehow it bored me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and yet I read it with a straight face from the first page to the last. Everything is formulaic, predictable and let’s be honest, done a hundred times before (and better).The book tries , it’s true, and yet it didn’t manage to stir the right emotions in me even though everything was fine with it: the guys were fine, the writing is fine, the romance is fine and the whole book was fine. I may be broken lol but I needed a bit more of …something. Some tension, a more intense feelings and dialogues. It was all very…bland. I liked Gavin a bit more than Hudson but he was too damn ok with everything..Hudson lied to him the entire time that he will come out and that he will be brave and that he wants to be together and that he will stand up to his father and then he drops him and Jordyn like a hot potato when thing didn’t to go as planned. He packed his bags and took off. And still everything was ..fine. He (Gavin) was like “Oh,ok, I’m sad but what can you do, that’s life. And Hudson went away, continued his life and then comes out in a corny, cliché and overused scene, applause included and everything was FINE (of course, that team gave 100 clues that it wasn’t homophobic but woe is me 🙄) and Gavin took him back in a blink of an eye. The drama with the in-laws fizzled out too and everything turned out , guess how…FINE of course. We didn’t even have the confrontation with his father after we had him on almost every page from the beginning. He suddenly disappears and everything is …? FINE!!!! 🤣🤣
The sex scenes were fine too and yet I skipped because they felt incredibly long.
So, “fine” and “ok” are the overall feelings the book left me with and I’ll probably forget it by tomorrow. And it wasn’t even on KU ..
I’ve finished this yesterday but I had no idea what to write about it so I took my time. I think this is a good book, probably , but somehow it bored me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and yet I read it with a straight face from the first page to the last. Everything is formulaic, predictable and let’s be honest, done a hundred times before (and better).The book tries , it’s true, and yet it didn’t manage to stir the right emotions in me even though everything was fine with it: the guys were fine, the writing is fine, the romance is fine and the whole book was fine. I may be broken lol but I needed a bit more of …something. Some tension, a more intense feelings and dialogues. It was all very…bland. I liked Gavin a bit more than Hudson but he was too damn ok with everything..Hudson lied to him the entire time that he will come out and that he will be brave and that he wants to be together and that he will stand up to his father and then he drops him and Jordyn like a hot potato when thing didn’t to go as planned. He packed his bags and took off. And still everything was ..fine. He (Gavin) was like “Oh,ok, I’m sad but what can you do, that’s life. And Hudson went away, continued his life and then comes out in a corny, cliché and overused scene, applause included and everything was FINE (of course, that team gave 100 clues that it wasn’t homophobic but woe is me 🙄) and Gavin took him back in a blink of an eye. The drama with the in-laws fizzled out too and everything turned out , guess how…FINE of course. We didn’t even have the confrontation with his father after we had him on almost every page from the beginning. He suddenly disappears and everything is …? FINE!!!! 🤣🤣
The sex scenes were fine too and yet I skipped because they felt incredibly long.
So, “fine” and “ok” are the overall feelings the book left me with and I’ll probably forget it by tomorrow. And it wasn’t even on KU ..
April 21, 2023
Hell yes, Sarina Bowen! The New Guy is everything I could have wanted and more!
I'm an OG fan of Sarina Bowen going back to Him, which is one of my all-time favorite books. However, I've not found that same magic in other Sarina Bowen books, even her M/M ones or hockey ones.... UNTIL NOW.
Gah! This book just gave me ALL the feels.
We get a MC with a kid (trust me, it works) who is a widower, and another who is a closeted bisexual hockey player just trying to figure out his place in the hockey world. I LOVED their meet-cute and the way their relationship slowly developed over time. There was just such a nice slow burn that balanced their simmering chemistry with evenly paced relationship development.
The story could have veered off and been too dramatic with the side plots (I was dreading that, especially with the kid-related drama), but Sarina Bowen kept everything in check. It was the perfect balance of hockey action, romance, sexy-time, and a little angst sprinkled in. Nothing felt extra and nothing felt like not enough.
A romantic and medium angst book for hockey lovers and fans of Sarina Bowen, The New Guy checked all of my boxes. I can't wait to see where this series takes me.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
I'm an OG fan of Sarina Bowen going back to Him, which is one of my all-time favorite books. However, I've not found that same magic in other Sarina Bowen books, even her M/M ones or hockey ones.... UNTIL NOW.
Gah! This book just gave me ALL the feels.
We get a MC with a kid (trust me, it works) who is a widower, and another who is a closeted bisexual hockey player just trying to figure out his place in the hockey world. I LOVED their meet-cute and the way their relationship slowly developed over time. There was just such a nice slow burn that balanced their simmering chemistry with evenly paced relationship development.
The story could have veered off and been too dramatic with the side plots (I was dreading that, especially with the kid-related drama), but Sarina Bowen kept everything in check. It was the perfect balance of hockey action, romance, sexy-time, and a little angst sprinkled in. Nothing felt extra and nothing felt like not enough.
A romantic and medium angst book for hockey lovers and fans of Sarina Bowen, The New Guy checked all of my boxes. I can't wait to see where this series takes me.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
March 1, 2023
2.75*** stars
I honestly only finished this book/audio because I paid extra cash for both. I guess, the suspicion I had ever since is now confirmed. What made "Him/Us" (and "Top Secret" as well) so special for me was obviously not Sarina Bowen alone but her collab with Elle Kennedy. On her own her books don’t excite me much, as proven in the past.
The plot was lame, the storytelling was lame, even the sex scenes were. And the characters, Hudson and Gavin, were bland and uninteresting as well. The most exciting thing was the commotion about the trade later in the book.
This new series seems to be a continuation of Sarina’s Brooklyn (Bruisers) series, at least in the beginning. What we saw of DiCosta at the end sounds looked promising but I am not yet motivated at all to continue with this series. I was not impressed. I was bored!
Not even the audio, performed by JF Harding and Teddy Hamilton (two fav of mine), was able to really keep me hooked. My first impression remains: this was neither particularly good, in any way special or memorable at all.
Maybe I’ll try "The Understatement of the Year" for a re-listen some time.
**************
Hockey Guys Series:
Book 1 - The New Guy - 2.75 stars
Book 2 - I’m Your Guy - release 11/23
I honestly only finished this book/audio because I paid extra cash for both. I guess, the suspicion I had ever since is now confirmed. What made "Him/Us" (and "Top Secret" as well) so special for me was obviously not Sarina Bowen alone but her collab with Elle Kennedy. On her own her books don’t excite me much, as proven in the past.
The plot was lame, the storytelling was lame, even the sex scenes were. And the characters, Hudson and Gavin, were bland and uninteresting as well. The most exciting thing was the commotion about the trade later in the book.
This new series seems to be a continuation of Sarina’s Brooklyn (Bruisers) series, at least in the beginning. What we saw of DiCosta at the end sounds looked promising but I am not yet motivated at all to continue with this series. I was not impressed. I was bored!
Not even the audio, performed by JF Harding and Teddy Hamilton (two fav of mine), was able to really keep me hooked. My first impression remains: this was neither particularly good, in any way special or memorable at all.
Maybe I’ll try "The Understatement of the Year" for a re-listen some time.
**************
Hockey Guys Series:
Book 1 - The New Guy - 2.75 stars
Book 2 - I’m Your Guy - release 11/23
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February 9, 2023
The New Guy is a stand alone, MM, sports romance by Sarina Bowen. From the moment I first heard about this book, I became a stalker. I loved the sound of it and now that I’ve read it...it was EVERYTHING I hoped it would be...and more!!!
Hudson Newgate’s career as a pro hockey player consists of four trades in five years. He hasn’t been any one place long enough to outgrow being the “new guy.” And here he is again, traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers, in a new town, in a new apartment. Hudson never takes the time to become friends with his team mates or to do much with his apartment. Why should he? He doubts he’ll be there long anyway. His agent is his father who rules over Hudson’s career with an iron fist. Hudson has a secret, that he is bi-sexual. He has wanted to come out for years, to live his true life, but time and time again, his father convinces him that it’s not the right time. All Hudson needs to do is play the best hockey he can and maybe, just maybe, he won’t get traded again, at least for a while.
Gavin Gillis is a twenty five year old widowed single father to the most adorable seven year old little girl, Jordyn. Gavin is an athletic trainer. He’s the other new guy to the Bruisers. It’s been two years since he lost his husband. He and Jordyn need a fresh start in a new town with a new job. Between juggling getting his little girl settled in a new school, starting a new job and dealing with his monster-in-law, his hands are full. There definitely isn’t any room for his sexy new neighbor who is also a defenseman for the team he works for.
With a little help from little Jordyn and Gavin’s meddling sister, these two can no longer deny the attraction between them. Gavin needs this job and Hudson is securely in the closet. But their hearts have other plans. And other parts of their bodies as well!
This book!!! These two!!! They were so perfect together. I smiled so much! I swooned so much!! Wow, I’m using a lot of exclamation points!!! But you get the idea. There are so many possibilities here for future books. I’ve got every body part crossed that there might be more. Just read this book. I hope you love it as much as I did!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Hudson Newgate’s career as a pro hockey player consists of four trades in five years. He hasn’t been any one place long enough to outgrow being the “new guy.” And here he is again, traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers, in a new town, in a new apartment. Hudson never takes the time to become friends with his team mates or to do much with his apartment. Why should he? He doubts he’ll be there long anyway. His agent is his father who rules over Hudson’s career with an iron fist. Hudson has a secret, that he is bi-sexual. He has wanted to come out for years, to live his true life, but time and time again, his father convinces him that it’s not the right time. All Hudson needs to do is play the best hockey he can and maybe, just maybe, he won’t get traded again, at least for a while.
Gavin Gillis is a twenty five year old widowed single father to the most adorable seven year old little girl, Jordyn. Gavin is an athletic trainer. He’s the other new guy to the Bruisers. It’s been two years since he lost his husband. He and Jordyn need a fresh start in a new town with a new job. Between juggling getting his little girl settled in a new school, starting a new job and dealing with his monster-in-law, his hands are full. There definitely isn’t any room for his sexy new neighbor who is also a defenseman for the team he works for.
With a little help from little Jordyn and Gavin’s meddling sister, these two can no longer deny the attraction between them. Gavin needs this job and Hudson is securely in the closet. But their hearts have other plans. And other parts of their bodies as well!
This book!!! These two!!! They were so perfect together. I smiled so much! I swooned so much!! Wow, I’m using a lot of exclamation points!!! But you get the idea. There are so many possibilities here for future books. I’ve got every body part crossed that there might be more. Just read this book. I hope you love it as much as I did!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
March 4, 2023
Audiobook - 5 stars
Story - 2.75 stars
It's all on me. I went in with low expectations and got what I deserved. 😪 I was warned.🤡
Nothing really happens here. It was so boring, I wonder why I stuck with it. Gosh, I need to learn how to manage my reading time. 😫🤣
Anyhoo, the audio book was entertaining. The story was okay, it has all been written before. Nothing new/special here.
Story - 2.75 stars
It's all on me. I went in with low expectations and got what I deserved. 😪 I was warned.🤡
Nothing really happens here. It was so boring, I wonder why I stuck with it. Gosh, I need to learn how to manage my reading time. 😫🤣
Anyhoo, the audio book was entertaining. The story was okay, it has all been written before. Nothing new/special here.
March 10, 2023
***3.0 rating***
Boring and disappointing. I need to stop comparing every book SB writes with Him and Us. 🤡
I was going to write a review for this book, but as the saying goes, if you have nothing nice to say, it's best just not to say anything at all.
Boring and disappointing. I need to stop comparing every book SB writes with Him and Us. 🤡
I was going to write a review for this book, but as the saying goes, if you have nothing nice to say, it's best just not to say anything at all.
February 27, 2023
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.***
The New Guy is an impressive emotional story. This story has such a brilliant pace that you know instantly these two are perfect for one another, but due to a variety of factors they are unable to act on this once-in-a-lifetime connection. I enjoyed this heartfelt story and all its emotional moments that made for such a rewarding read.
I loved how this author took the necessary time in developing a strong bond between these two characters. They are both flawed with significant emotional baggage. The best part is they were both given the appropriate time for their feelings to develop which allowed their relationship to grow and mature at a reasonable pace.
Hudson and Gavin have instant chemistry from the moment they meet, but their specific situations create many hurdles and roadblocks to having the relationship that both want. Gavin is still healing from being a widowed single father at 25, and Hudson is trying to process another transfer to a new team.
Both are in weird places in their lives and together they have such great chemistry they both forget about their struggles. Of course, this reprieve does not last and reality quickly set in, which creates a whole new set of issues for both Hudson and Gavin.
Overall I love this emotional hockey romance that was everything and more. All of the angsty moments are well worth the struggle due to this beautiful love story. I loved getting to know these characters and cannot wait for the next entry. Should be a lot of fun!
The New Guy is an impressive emotional story. This story has such a brilliant pace that you know instantly these two are perfect for one another, but due to a variety of factors they are unable to act on this once-in-a-lifetime connection. I enjoyed this heartfelt story and all its emotional moments that made for such a rewarding read.
I loved how this author took the necessary time in developing a strong bond between these two characters. They are both flawed with significant emotional baggage. The best part is they were both given the appropriate time for their feelings to develop which allowed their relationship to grow and mature at a reasonable pace.
Hudson and Gavin have instant chemistry from the moment they meet, but their specific situations create many hurdles and roadblocks to having the relationship that both want. Gavin is still healing from being a widowed single father at 25, and Hudson is trying to process another transfer to a new team.
Both are in weird places in their lives and together they have such great chemistry they both forget about their struggles. Of course, this reprieve does not last and reality quickly set in, which creates a whole new set of issues for both Hudson and Gavin.
Overall I love this emotional hockey romance that was everything and more. All of the angsty moments are well worth the struggle due to this beautiful love story. I loved getting to know these characters and cannot wait for the next entry. Should be a lot of fun!
April 23, 2023
This was outstanding. I loved that it was a bit of a gritty romance.
The characters are absolutely amazing. I'm sure you know the feeling when you like characters so much that you'd want to have them as friends. I admire Gavin so much for being 100% Jordyn's dad, giving his all to make childcare and a professional life work. I love how he was also a great friend to his daughter, sharing her enthusiasm for Hockey and letting her stay up past bedtime to watch a game.
Hudson is a completely different character. Focused, but frustrated with life. Lonely, but too emotional to fill the emptiness with one night stands. He is controlled by his own strict rules that he set for himself to achieve what he wants. But what he wants exactly, he doesn't seem to know himself. Prove his worth to his father? Be a famous hockey player? Or be a good partner and having a family?
He's pretty torn inside and it's Gavin's patience and understanding (and once again: patience!!) that helps him come around.
So what's the plot?
Gavin is a 25 year old single dad and widower. Trying to find new roots in a world that has been turned upside down by his husband's unexpected death and his monster-in-law who wants to get her hands on his daughter Jordyn, Gavin and Jordyn move to Brooklyn where he starts a job as an athletic trainer for a hockey team (which despite the job title, means he's one of them team's physio therapists).
He meets Hudson, one of the star players, who lives for his sport. After having been sold several times in the recent past, Hudson is desperately trying to prove himself to his team and his agent father who used to be a famous pro athlet as well.
Their romance is absolutely stunning, but yes it's hard to digest that Hudson's world really is his sport. I spent a while believing that Hudson would give it up to be with Gavin, but no, the story actually focused on how Gavin and Hudson could make their love work despite their complicated jobs and various conflicts of interest.
And yes, I agree that while these characters are lovable and awesome, they need to remain in the environment of romance literature. What I'm trying to say is, the things that happen between them can be found countless times with people in real life. But most of the time, these relationships end in disaster. People falling in love with someone who is unavailable, people stringing their lovers along by telling them that soon they will come out to make their love official. Buying them expensive presents, hoping to win their affection.
Lots and lots and lots of red flags.
But then there is also the world of romance literature where such things really do end well, where people are honest with each other, even after they do make mistakes and hurt the one they love. And in that context, I absolutely loved this story. Strong characters, not just our guys but also all side characters and especially daughter Jordyn who got to experience the unique situation of being a fan of Hudson's through his hockey fame to having him as her step-dad. What an evolution. Now he can sign all her jerseys all day long :-)
This author is spectacular. I'm not usually a fan of athletes as romance characters, but I really enjoyed this.
5 stars and a favorite read this year!
The characters are absolutely amazing. I'm sure you know the feeling when you like characters so much that you'd want to have them as friends. I admire Gavin so much for being 100% Jordyn's dad, giving his all to make childcare and a professional life work. I love how he was also a great friend to his daughter, sharing her enthusiasm for Hockey and letting her stay up past bedtime to watch a game.
Hudson is a completely different character. Focused, but frustrated with life. Lonely, but too emotional to fill the emptiness with one night stands. He is controlled by his own strict rules that he set for himself to achieve what he wants. But what he wants exactly, he doesn't seem to know himself. Prove his worth to his father? Be a famous hockey player? Or be a good partner and having a family?
He's pretty torn inside and it's Gavin's patience and understanding (and once again: patience!!) that helps him come around.
So what's the plot?
Gavin is a 25 year old single dad and widower. Trying to find new roots in a world that has been turned upside down by his husband's unexpected death and his monster-in-law who wants to get her hands on his daughter Jordyn, Gavin and Jordyn move to Brooklyn where he starts a job as an athletic trainer for a hockey team (which despite the job title, means he's one of them team's physio therapists).
He meets Hudson, one of the star players, who lives for his sport. After having been sold several times in the recent past, Hudson is desperately trying to prove himself to his team and his agent father who used to be a famous pro athlet as well.
Their romance is absolutely stunning, but yes it's hard to digest that Hudson's world really is his sport. I spent a while believing that Hudson would give it up to be with Gavin, but no, the story actually focused on how Gavin and Hudson could make their love work despite their complicated jobs and various conflicts of interest.
And yes, I agree that while these characters are lovable and awesome, they need to remain in the environment of romance literature. What I'm trying to say is, the things that happen between them can be found countless times with people in real life. But most of the time, these relationships end in disaster. People falling in love with someone who is unavailable, people stringing their lovers along by telling them that soon they will come out to make their love official. Buying them expensive presents, hoping to win their affection.
Lots and lots and lots of red flags.
But then there is also the world of romance literature where such things really do end well, where people are honest with each other, even after they do make mistakes and hurt the one they love. And in that context, I absolutely loved this story. Strong characters, not just our guys but also all side characters and especially daughter Jordyn who got to experience the unique situation of being a fan of Hudson's through his hockey fame to having him as her step-dad. What an evolution. Now he can sign all her jerseys all day long :-)
This author is spectacular. I'm not usually a fan of athletes as romance characters, but I really enjoyed this.
5 stars and a favorite read this year!
March 1, 2023
This was so good! I loved it. I have always liked Sarina Bowens writing style and story telling and this was no exception. It was really well done. The last quarter of the book got me a bit emotional I almost couldn’t put the book down. Excited for book 2!!
February 21, 2024
reread 02/2024
Sadly I didn't enjoy this reread as much as I hoped I would.
So many things got on my nerves.
-The drama around Gavin's mother in law and the sudden resolution felt overly constructed.
-The dialogues about their relationship (espescially Hudson's part) read like the author had a list with bullet points "romantic things to say" (if you want to stay closeted).
-The sex scenes were boring, I kept skipping ahead.
-A thing I never understood is the "I'll score a goal for you" - speech. Why? It's your job, isn't it? Declarations like that are cringey not romantic for me.
-Usually I enjoy text messages thrown in the story, but here they were written in a lazy and unimaginative way.
"Is it still hot in New York?"
"Yes it is. Or maybe I'm just hot for you, baby."
"Fair enough. How was your workout?"
"Lonely"
"And how's the hip?"
....so swoony, right?
And why are there always the same standard phrases.
-"What did you need? I'm no good at relationships. It's like everyone got the manual but me."
-“Don’t be afraid to feel things. That’s what we’re here for.” “I’ll try, baby. Because you’re my number one. I’ve got no pride left. I’ll give it all to you.”
Maybe I'm broken, but I can't (don't want to) give this more than 2,25 stars.
I won't bother with the sequel now.
---------
1. read 04/2023
4,5 stars.
I've been disappointed with many of Sarina Bowen's last books.
But because I had loved her earlier books I kept giving her new chances, and I've read around 30 of her books, but lately I didn't bother anymore.
I have to thank my GR-friend Heather for giving this book a chance, because she mentioned in her review that she hadn't loved the author's books lately, either, but this was different for her. Thank you Heather!
I really enjoyed Hudson and Gavin's story!
The were phantastic together, and the single dad trope didn't draw the focus from their relationship at all.
I loved that the author didn't add miscommunication or cheap twists or even drama around Gavin's mother in law.
The storyline was well paced and amazing.
The only thing I didn't like that much, was how their talks about feelings always felt stiltet and unnatural. But maybe that's just me.
Sadly I didn't enjoy this reread as much as I hoped I would.
So many things got on my nerves.
-The drama around Gavin's mother in law and the sudden resolution felt overly constructed.
-The dialogues about their relationship (espescially Hudson's part) read like the author had a list with bullet points "romantic things to say" (if you want to stay closeted).
-The sex scenes were boring, I kept skipping ahead.
-A thing I never understood is the "I'll score a goal for you" - speech. Why? It's your job, isn't it? Declarations like that are cringey not romantic for me.
-Usually I enjoy text messages thrown in the story, but here they were written in a lazy and unimaginative way.
"Is it still hot in New York?"
"Yes it is. Or maybe I'm just hot for you, baby."
"Fair enough. How was your workout?"
"Lonely"
"And how's the hip?"
....so swoony, right?
And why are there always the same standard phrases.
-"What did you need? I'm no good at relationships. It's like everyone got the manual but me."
-“Don’t be afraid to feel things. That’s what we’re here for.” “I’ll try, baby. Because you’re my number one. I’ve got no pride left. I’ll give it all to you.”
Maybe I'm broken, but I can't (don't want to) give this more than 2,25 stars.
I won't bother with the sequel now.
---------
1. read 04/2023
4,5 stars.
I've been disappointed with many of Sarina Bowen's last books.
But because I had loved her earlier books I kept giving her new chances, and I've read around 30 of her books, but lately I didn't bother anymore.
I have to thank my GR-friend Heather for giving this book a chance, because she mentioned in her review that she hadn't loved the author's books lately, either, but this was different for her. Thank you Heather!
I really enjoyed Hudson and Gavin's story!
The were phantastic together, and the single dad trope didn't draw the focus from their relationship at all.
I loved that the author didn't add miscommunication or cheap twists or even drama around Gavin's mother in law.
The storyline was well paced and amazing.
The only thing I didn't like that much, was how their talks about feelings always felt stiltet and unnatural. But maybe that's just me.
Read
March 28, 2023dnf. this is dry and boring as shit, i'm out
March 18, 2023
There were a few touching scenes, but the showdown(s) I looked forward to were anti-climatic and the third act conflict ticked me off. Whilst I prefer this to some of SB’s latest offerings, I wasn’t blown away. I can see why some friends found it a snooze fest!
June 18, 2024
3.5 Stars
A solid start to Bowen’s latest M/M series, The New Guy is a sexy-sweet hockey romance, between a gay physiotherapist who’s a widowed young father and a closeted bisexual pro hockey player with daddy issues, who find themselves fighting an instant attraction while working together for the same team and living in the same building.
The story was pretty straightforward and paced well, but it was nothing standout in the world of M/M hockey romances, in my opinion. The lead characters, Gavin and Hudson were nice enough, their chemistry fairly decent, but perhaps not the strongest, most compelling MC’s I’ve read by Bowen in the past decade. (I guess they can’t all be like Jamie and Ryan, or the sexy Shipley men, but that’s okay).
Although it’s still an extremely relevant theme to deal with closeted athletes in the world of masc populated sports, I think I’m just a bit over the angst these characters are faced with, often feeling like a no-win situation when they strive to be true to themselves and their loved ones. Hudson’s situation as a newly traded team member (which was his constant dilemma), and his past experiences with poor management and trying to publicly embrace his sexuality, definitely wasn’t a good situation by any means, and although I felt sorry for him, I wasn’t a fan of the way he handled a lot of the conflicts he faced across the arc of the story. In fact, his most frustrating decisions, for me anyway, occurred waaaay late in the story, which made it a bit hard to truly root for the guy and his relationship with much more mature and level-headed Gavin, who came across as the stronger of the two characters.
What stood out as a strength of the story, though, were the secondary cast of characters, especially Gavin’s charming little girl and all of Hudson’s fellow teammates. I definitely felt at a loss though, having never read any of the Brooklyn Bruisers/Brooklyn books, which there are MANY. I could tell immediately that this was an ensemble of amazing men and women who had already had their stories previously told, and I felt like I was missing all the throwbacks that would have propelled this story into something grander and more nostalgic a revisit for me. (I recognised Trevi, because I read The Ivy Years series roughly 76 years ago, but that was the extent of my character recognition and it pained me to be so oblivious).
This is obviously a me flaw, but I think it must be said that even though this is a series starter standalone in it’s own right, I’m pretty confident that readers would have a hell of a better time with this story if they were already acquainted with this world and all these side characters, who surrounded Gavin and Hudson quite consistently during the course of their personal and romantic journey.
I may not have loved this the way I hoped to, but it’s definitely inspired me to go back and fill in some of those gaps I have in my Sarina Bowen reading. Maybe then, one day, I’ll be able to revisit this story and perhaps have a better time with the whole thing, as part of a bigger, interconnected reading experience.
**************************************
Audio Edition:
Now, I’d like to be shouting positivity from the rooftops over this audiobook, which is narrated by two of my favourite narrators, Teddy Hamilton and J.F. Harding, but—ugh, I hate saying that—even though they performed their parts well, it was a tad obvious that no communication was had in the making of this audio, as they did VASTLY DIFFERENT voices for each other’s characters, which was super jarring to my voice sensitive self and left me confused over POV focus a bunch of times. I was left wishing just one narrator had done the entire thing, because if two voice actors are going to give extremely different voices to all the characters, it just becomes a jumbled mess I could do without. But will it turn me off either of these narrators? NEVER!
A solid start to Bowen’s latest M/M series, The New Guy is a sexy-sweet hockey romance, between a gay physiotherapist who’s a widowed young father and a closeted bisexual pro hockey player with daddy issues, who find themselves fighting an instant attraction while working together for the same team and living in the same building.
The story was pretty straightforward and paced well, but it was nothing standout in the world of M/M hockey romances, in my opinion. The lead characters, Gavin and Hudson were nice enough, their chemistry fairly decent, but perhaps not the strongest, most compelling MC’s I’ve read by Bowen in the past decade. (I guess they can’t all be like Jamie and Ryan, or the sexy Shipley men, but that’s okay).
Although it’s still an extremely relevant theme to deal with closeted athletes in the world of masc populated sports, I think I’m just a bit over the angst these characters are faced with, often feeling like a no-win situation when they strive to be true to themselves and their loved ones. Hudson’s situation as a newly traded team member (which was his constant dilemma), and his past experiences with poor management and trying to publicly embrace his sexuality, definitely wasn’t a good situation by any means, and although I felt sorry for him, I wasn’t a fan of the way he handled a lot of the conflicts he faced across the arc of the story. In fact, his most frustrating decisions, for me anyway, occurred waaaay late in the story, which made it a bit hard to truly root for the guy and his relationship with much more mature and level-headed Gavin, who came across as the stronger of the two characters.
What stood out as a strength of the story, though, were the secondary cast of characters, especially Gavin’s charming little girl and all of Hudson’s fellow teammates. I definitely felt at a loss though, having never read any of the Brooklyn Bruisers/Brooklyn books, which there are MANY. I could tell immediately that this was an ensemble of amazing men and women who had already had their stories previously told, and I felt like I was missing all the throwbacks that would have propelled this story into something grander and more nostalgic a revisit for me. (I recognised Trevi, because I read The Ivy Years series roughly 76 years ago, but that was the extent of my character recognition and it pained me to be so oblivious).
This is obviously a me flaw, but I think it must be said that even though this is a series starter standalone in it’s own right, I’m pretty confident that readers would have a hell of a better time with this story if they were already acquainted with this world and all these side characters, who surrounded Gavin and Hudson quite consistently during the course of their personal and romantic journey.
I may not have loved this the way I hoped to, but it’s definitely inspired me to go back and fill in some of those gaps I have in my Sarina Bowen reading. Maybe then, one day, I’ll be able to revisit this story and perhaps have a better time with the whole thing, as part of a bigger, interconnected reading experience.
**************************************
Audio Edition:
Now, I’d like to be shouting positivity from the rooftops over this audiobook, which is narrated by two of my favourite narrators, Teddy Hamilton and J.F. Harding, but—ugh, I hate saying that—even though they performed their parts well, it was a tad obvious that no communication was had in the making of this audio, as they did VASTLY DIFFERENT voices for each other’s characters, which was super jarring to my voice sensitive self and left me confused over POV focus a bunch of times. I was left wishing just one narrator had done the entire thing, because if two voice actors are going to give extremely different voices to all the characters, it just becomes a jumbled mess I could do without. But will it turn me off either of these narrators? NEVER!
March 22, 2023
"There’s nowhere else you need to be right now. Just here with me."
This book was everything I was expecting it to be—only more. Sarina is an absolute goddess when it comes to writing MM: it’s a unique blend of emotions, genuine fun, sweetness, and some steam that keeps you coming back for more.
There’s no better MM author out there for me. Period.
And Gavin and Hudson kicked me right in the feels.
"But maybe you’re not the only one? For a whole hour or two, you were the most exciting thing that happened to me in years."
Gavin, the single dad, decides to go out to a bar one night while his sister babysits. It used to be fun, but it’s not so fun anymore. Until Hudson walks in, sits beside him, and they start talking. They talk hockey. Then, they play ping-pong. Then, they exchange looks, and they’re so into each other you’re just rooting for them. But then—nothing happens.
"No. You can fix my hip, okay? But you can’t fix my life."
Gavin is a widower and absolutely comfortable with being gay—he just doesn’t think happiness can come around twice in a lifetime. Hudson, however, is not totally comfortable with his sexuality because he’s under the impression that he wouldn’t be accepted if he came clean about who he loves. He’s been traded enough as it is, bouncing around from team to team, never having a place to call home, and he’s terrified that coming clean to his team will get him traded—again.
Once they realize their anonymous hookup is with a neighbor because yes, they live on the same floor, Hudson withdraws.
"Dear Lord, I will do your bidding if I can get out of this room without picturing Gavin naked in downward dog. Or me and Gavin naked, in doggie style…"
However, turns out Hudson may be the new player on the Bruisers, but Gavin is the new athletic coach. What does this mean? Torture. Sheer torture for both of them. They absolutely want each other, but they can’t go there: it’s their job on the line, a seven-year-old’s heart (and Jordyn is ADORABLE!), and it’s—too much.
"God, can you not? Don’t use your sex voice. It’s hard enough being near you all the time."
The attraction was through the roof. I just wanted to push them together for them to work out their shit. I didn’t need to—Gavin’s sister and Jordyn are there to move things along. Finally!
"And maybe this part sounds corny, but I feel seen. Like there’s one person in this building who really knows me."
When it finally happened, my heart was full. It takes them a while to trust each other, not only with their bodies but with everything else. Intimacy is a lot more than sex, and this is what Sarina does so freaking well every single time.
"My heart is full, and a little bit broken. That’s my baseline. All systems normal."
This line right here brought tears to my eyes. Gavin broke my heart with his care, his love, and his honesty. With how much he gives.
It’s clear to everyone that this stopped being a hookup on that very first night. Hudson, however, is still held up by so many things, and I wanted to slap him silly but also hug him. It’s really not his fault, but life’s instead.
"Falling for you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done."
When everything seems to be going well, there’s a twist, and even though I knew it was coming, it still hurt. And there was even a moment when I thought there would be no HEA for these two, not because they're not perfect together, but because there was a huge amount of stuff in their way.
I shouldn’t have doubted Sarina because she always delivers.
"I was never really living until I had you. And I’ve never said that to anyone."
This is the emotional story of the new athletic coach who thought he would never be happy again and the new hockey player who thought he would never find a home. As it turns out, they’re both very new at this journey of a lifetime called love but very good at it too, together.
Loved it!
This book was everything I was expecting it to be—only more. Sarina is an absolute goddess when it comes to writing MM: it’s a unique blend of emotions, genuine fun, sweetness, and some steam that keeps you coming back for more.
There’s no better MM author out there for me. Period.
And Gavin and Hudson kicked me right in the feels.
"But maybe you’re not the only one? For a whole hour or two, you were the most exciting thing that happened to me in years."
Gavin, the single dad, decides to go out to a bar one night while his sister babysits. It used to be fun, but it’s not so fun anymore. Until Hudson walks in, sits beside him, and they start talking. They talk hockey. Then, they play ping-pong. Then, they exchange looks, and they’re so into each other you’re just rooting for them. But then—nothing happens.
"No. You can fix my hip, okay? But you can’t fix my life."
Gavin is a widower and absolutely comfortable with being gay—he just doesn’t think happiness can come around twice in a lifetime. Hudson, however, is not totally comfortable with his sexuality because he’s under the impression that he wouldn’t be accepted if he came clean about who he loves. He’s been traded enough as it is, bouncing around from team to team, never having a place to call home, and he’s terrified that coming clean to his team will get him traded—again.
Once they realize their anonymous hookup is with a neighbor because yes, they live on the same floor, Hudson withdraws.
"Dear Lord, I will do your bidding if I can get out of this room without picturing Gavin naked in downward dog. Or me and Gavin naked, in doggie style…"
However, turns out Hudson may be the new player on the Bruisers, but Gavin is the new athletic coach. What does this mean? Torture. Sheer torture for both of them. They absolutely want each other, but they can’t go there: it’s their job on the line, a seven-year-old’s heart (and Jordyn is ADORABLE!), and it’s—too much.
"God, can you not? Don’t use your sex voice. It’s hard enough being near you all the time."
The attraction was through the roof. I just wanted to push them together for them to work out their shit. I didn’t need to—Gavin’s sister and Jordyn are there to move things along. Finally!
"And maybe this part sounds corny, but I feel seen. Like there’s one person in this building who really knows me."
When it finally happened, my heart was full. It takes them a while to trust each other, not only with their bodies but with everything else. Intimacy is a lot more than sex, and this is what Sarina does so freaking well every single time.
"My heart is full, and a little bit broken. That’s my baseline. All systems normal."
This line right here brought tears to my eyes. Gavin broke my heart with his care, his love, and his honesty. With how much he gives.
It’s clear to everyone that this stopped being a hookup on that very first night. Hudson, however, is still held up by so many things, and I wanted to slap him silly but also hug him. It’s really not his fault, but life’s instead.
"Falling for you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done."
When everything seems to be going well, there’s a twist, and even though I knew it was coming, it still hurt. And there was even a moment when I thought there would be no HEA for these two, not because they're not perfect together, but because there was a huge amount of stuff in their way.
I shouldn’t have doubted Sarina because she always delivers.
"I was never really living until I had you. And I’ve never said that to anyone."
This is the emotional story of the new athletic coach who thought he would never be happy again and the new hockey player who thought he would never find a home. As it turns out, they’re both very new at this journey of a lifetime called love but very good at it too, together.
Loved it!
March 21, 2023
Audio - 5 + Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
April 19, 2023
2 stars for the story
5 stars for the audiobook.
2.5 stars generously rounded up because of the audio.
So... this was...not good.
I think Sarina for me is turning into another Ella Frank for me. I keep wanting something great to rival the book that made me love their writing and I have yet to find it.
I keep wanting another Wesmie and I don't think I'm getting that.
Long story short:
I hated how the big baddies in the book: the dad and the MIL were both unnecessary drama material and both issues were handles OFFPAGE 😤. I mean... what was the point?
The 80% break up scene was frankly OTT.
The sex scenes were.. not good.
The pacing of the book was weir.
Overall: Less than mediocre. It pains me to say this.
The narrators however were perfect. I think I would have DNFed if I was reading the ebook tbh.
5 stars for the audiobook.
2.5 stars generously rounded up because of the audio.
So... this was...not good.
I think Sarina for me is turning into another Ella Frank for me. I keep wanting something great to rival the book that made me love their writing and I have yet to find it.
I keep wanting another Wesmie and I don't think I'm getting that.
Long story short:
I hated how the big baddies in the book: the dad and the MIL were both unnecessary drama material and both issues were handles OFFPAGE 😤. I mean... what was the point?
The 80% break up scene was frankly OTT.
The sex scenes were.. not good.
The pacing of the book was weir.
Overall: Less than mediocre. It pains me to say this.
The narrators however were perfect. I think I would have DNFed if I was reading the ebook tbh.
February 27, 2023
4 stars
Sarina Bowen is one of the best when it comes to hockey romances and though this is the start to a new series for her (Hockey Guys) I was thrilled to see some of my Brooklyn guys in this one!
Hudson Newgate is perpetually the ‘new guy’. He is constantly getting traded but he just wants to settle down and be able to live his life without the fear of being moved again. Maybe… just maybe Brooklyn will be the place this will happen.
Gavin is a single dad and widower who just moved to Brooklyn for a job. He’s an athletic trainer and happens to be working for Brooklyn’s hockey team. But when these two meet in a bar they have no idea.
Gavin and Hudson’s story was fantastic, though frustrating at times (Hudson’s dad… ugh) and I absolutely adored Jordan- Gavin’s daughter. Some authors do a really great job putting kids in books and this was one of those times. I’m not always a fan of the secret relationships, but by the end I was so happy with how this turned out!
The New Guy is a strong start to Bowen’s newest hockey series and I for one can’t wait to read more!
Sarina Bowen is one of the best when it comes to hockey romances and though this is the start to a new series for her (Hockey Guys) I was thrilled to see some of my Brooklyn guys in this one!
Hudson Newgate is perpetually the ‘new guy’. He is constantly getting traded but he just wants to settle down and be able to live his life without the fear of being moved again. Maybe… just maybe Brooklyn will be the place this will happen.
Gavin is a single dad and widower who just moved to Brooklyn for a job. He’s an athletic trainer and happens to be working for Brooklyn’s hockey team. But when these two meet in a bar they have no idea.
Gavin and Hudson’s story was fantastic, though frustrating at times (Hudson’s dad… ugh) and I absolutely adored Jordan- Gavin’s daughter. Some authors do a really great job putting kids in books and this was one of those times. I’m not always a fan of the secret relationships, but by the end I was so happy with how this turned out!
The New Guy is a strong start to Bowen’s newest hockey series and I for one can’t wait to read more!
Audio book source: Soundwise (audio arc)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: JF Harding & Teddy Hamilton
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 9h 49m
June 1, 2025
I actually feel conflicted about this book, on the one side I liked it and Gavin and Hudson were cute together albeit a bit too corny at times.
However! some things did bother me like the whole drama with the horrible mother-in-law happens all off-page and we don't really get to see it handled, I feel that it was so built up and then puff nothing. Then Hudson and his toxic relationship with his dad had a very anticlimactic conclusion, like seriously, just one text message? And last but not least,I wanted to see some grovelling!
However! some things did bother me like the whole drama with the horrible mother-in-law happens all off-page and we don't really get to see it handled, I feel that it was so built up and then puff nothing. Then Hudson and his toxic relationship with his dad had a very anticlimactic conclusion, like seriously, just one text message? And last but not least,I wanted to see some grovelling!
March 23, 2023
There are so many hockey romances out there and I just eat them up every time. And after all the ones I've read, I still don't know anything about the game. If a book explains the rules of hockey they must go in one ear and straight out the other.
Anyways, The New Guy has definitely made it towards the top of my favourite hockey romance list, if I was ever bothered to make one of those.
The romance is between Hudson, a closeted bi hockey player who keeps getting traded (hence the book title) and Gavin, a single father and the athletic trainer for the team Hudson's just been traded to.
I love Hudson and Gavin, they work really well together. There meet-cute at the beginning, when neither knew that the other was working for the same team, was brilliant. It really added some nice angst when they realized they couldn't get together and had to fight their feelings for one another. A losing battle my dudes.
Hudson was so adorable with Gavin's daughter. Every scene with the three of them was super cute!
The book also tackles some tough topics like grief and manipulative parents. I felt like they were well handled and added even more depth to the book.
__
I'm excited to have a new sports romance series to look forward to.
Anyways, The New Guy has definitely made it towards the top of my favourite hockey romance list, if I was ever bothered to make one of those.
The romance is between Hudson, a closeted bi hockey player who keeps getting traded (hence the book title) and Gavin, a single father and the athletic trainer for the team Hudson's just been traded to.
I love Hudson and Gavin, they work really well together. There meet-cute at the beginning, when neither knew that the other was working for the same team, was brilliant. It really added some nice angst when they realized they couldn't get together and had to fight their feelings for one another. A losing battle my dudes.
Hudson was so adorable with Gavin's daughter. Every scene with the three of them was super cute!
The book also tackles some tough topics like grief and manipulative parents. I felt like they were well handled and added even more depth to the book.
__
I'm excited to have a new sports romance series to look forward to.
February 9, 2023
I have loved Sarina Bowen ever since I read about Jamie and Wes in Him, Us, and the novella, Epic. When I found out she was coming out with a new MM hockey romance, I knew I had to get my hands on it ASAP. I squealed when I got the ARC!
Thank you to Sarina and her Publisher for an e-arc copy.
Writing: 5/5 - Plot: 5/5 - Ending: 5/5
This book had me swooning, emotional, and more. I love her style of writing. It just makes it so bingeable. I absolutely loved Hudson and Gavin and thought they were so cute.
Is the plot a tad formulaic? Yes, but it's executed very well, and I absolutely loved it. Hudson and Gavin's chemistry was written so well, the tension whew! I thought Gavin's backstory was handled with great care and it made me emotional time and time again. I loved how supportive Hudson was of him throughout the story.
Even though it is a bit formulaic, the "twist" had me quite upset, but I knew I trusted Sarina for a reason!
If you loved Him, Us, and Epic by Sarina, you'll love this one.
Comes out February 28th!
Thank you to Sarina and her Publisher for an e-arc copy.
Writing: 5/5 - Plot: 5/5 - Ending: 5/5
This book had me swooning, emotional, and more. I love her style of writing. It just makes it so bingeable. I absolutely loved Hudson and Gavin and thought they were so cute.
Is the plot a tad formulaic? Yes, but it's executed very well, and I absolutely loved it. Hudson and Gavin's chemistry was written so well, the tension whew! I thought Gavin's backstory was handled with great care and it made me emotional time and time again. I loved how supportive Hudson was of him throughout the story.
Even though it is a bit formulaic, the "twist" had me quite upset, but I knew I trusted Sarina for a reason!
If you loved Him, Us, and Epic by Sarina, you'll love this one.
Comes out February 28th!
June 2, 2024
Maybe I'm just done with MM hockey romance because this book, which felt excruciatingly long, was nothing special.
At one point I was sure I was at least halfway through, but I was only at 23%. I started skimming a bit after that.
The main problem for me was Hudson. I couldn't stand him. He was an asshole and a coward, and there was almost no groveling considering how badly he screwed over Gavin (and Jordyn!).
Satisfactory epilogue, decent writing, no undue drama, sufficient steam.
That's all I got.
At one point I was sure I was at least halfway through, but I was only at 23%. I started skimming a bit after that.
The main problem for me was Hudson. I couldn't stand him. He was an asshole and a coward, and there was almost no groveling considering how badly he screwed over Gavin (and Jordyn!).
Satisfactory epilogue, decent writing, no undue drama, sufficient steam.
That's all I got.
March 2, 2023
I wasn't sure I would like this. My track record with this author is... rocky, to say the least. But this was honestly my favorite book by this author so far.
April 3, 2023
Low/medium angst hockey romance with a single dad & his second chance at Love (his first husband passed away)
Loved the audio duh it had Teddy Hamilton & Jf harding (new to me)
Loved the audio duh it had Teddy Hamilton & Jf harding (new to me)
May 8, 2023
Rating: ★★★★ /5
Spicy Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 /5
This book exceeded my expectations.
Contemporary romances are always hit-or-miss with me, and I'm glad that it turned out to be one that I enjoyed, especially since this book has the single-parent trope, which is one of my favorites.
There's some angst/drama, which was predictable, but I liked it nonetheless because it fit the vibe. Both Hudson and Gavin come with their own personal trauma, and I loved how they opened up to each other and worked through their problems.
If you're a fan of ice hockey romance with some drama, I totally recommend this!
------------------------------------
A single-dad hockey romance? Sounds exactly like my kind of book 😌
Spicy Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 /5
This book exceeded my expectations.
Contemporary romances are always hit-or-miss with me, and I'm glad that it turned out to be one that I enjoyed, especially since this book has the single-parent trope, which is one of my favorites.
There's some angst/drama, which was predictable, but I liked it nonetheless because it fit the vibe. Both Hudson and Gavin come with their own personal trauma, and I loved how they opened up to each other and worked through their problems.
If you're a fan of ice hockey romance with some drama, I totally recommend this!
------------------------------------
A single-dad hockey romance? Sounds exactly like my kind of book 😌
February 11, 2023
Straight onto the Favourites list with this one! Sarina writes conflicted young men so well and here she's excelled with Hudson Newgate aka New Guy.
He's the son of a double Stanley Cup winner who's now his agent, he's bisexual and in the closet, having been burned when he tried to come out to his team aged just 20 and getting traded a few hours later.
So he's understandably wary when the guy he has an aborted hook-up with not only turns out to live next door but is also the new trainer for the ice hockey team he's just arrived at following another trade. His fourth in five years.
Gavin, on the other hand, is a young man who's been through more than he should have at his relatively young age. He's a single dad and a widower, having lost his husband in a car accident a few years earlier.
The tension between them is delicious though, as Sarina carefully piles on the attraction, but also the friendship that slowly grows as they work together to help Hudson recover from a hip injury.
With a secondary plot involving snooty, rich grandparents trying to invalidate all Gavin's plans to bring up his adopted daughter Jordayn, who is an absolute delight, there's plenty of tension to keep the narrative flowing.
Tension also comes from Hudson's fears over coming out and there's a fair bit of justified angst as he and Gavin struggle once they accept they're not just having sex but both have caught feelings.
I have to say, I was waiting for the blow to come but even so, it still surprised me when it did and with the sharp quickness with which everything changed.
I'll leave it to you to discover how the obstacles are overcome, but I did love where and how this book finishes.
As it's connected to Sarina's existing Brooklyn series', I'm not sure if this will be another spin-off, but I hope so, as there are a couple of potential side characters I would love to know more about!
With a perfect blend of feels, the right kind of drama, romance, and excellent ice hockey references, this book ticked all my boxes.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
He's the son of a double Stanley Cup winner who's now his agent, he's bisexual and in the closet, having been burned when he tried to come out to his team aged just 20 and getting traded a few hours later.
So he's understandably wary when the guy he has an aborted hook-up with not only turns out to live next door but is also the new trainer for the ice hockey team he's just arrived at following another trade. His fourth in five years.
Gavin, on the other hand, is a young man who's been through more than he should have at his relatively young age. He's a single dad and a widower, having lost his husband in a car accident a few years earlier.
The tension between them is delicious though, as Sarina carefully piles on the attraction, but also the friendship that slowly grows as they work together to help Hudson recover from a hip injury.
With a secondary plot involving snooty, rich grandparents trying to invalidate all Gavin's plans to bring up his adopted daughter Jordayn, who is an absolute delight, there's plenty of tension to keep the narrative flowing.
Tension also comes from Hudson's fears over coming out and there's a fair bit of justified angst as he and Gavin struggle once they accept they're not just having sex but both have caught feelings.
I have to say, I was waiting for the blow to come but even so, it still surprised me when it did and with the sharp quickness with which everything changed.
I'll leave it to you to discover how the obstacles are overcome, but I did love where and how this book finishes.
As it's connected to Sarina's existing Brooklyn series', I'm not sure if this will be another spin-off, but I hope so, as there are a couple of potential side characters I would love to know more about!
With a perfect blend of feels, the right kind of drama, romance, and excellent ice hockey references, this book ticked all my boxes.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
March 5, 2023
2.5 rated up. Started out having issues, ~kind~ of grew on me over time, but overall, this didn’t exactly rock my world – and sadly continued an ongoing trend of once-fav authors coming out with (to me) underwhelming new offerings. Because this ain’t no Him, for sure. The thing with Sarina Bowen’s hockey books is, I couldn’t care less about hockey, but she’s really good at hockey settings, offering just enough info and on-page action that you do get invested in it, without it overwhelming the plot. In this case, though, I think I ended up caring about Hudson’s hockey woes more than the romance, lol.
My biggest problem with this is still that I don’t find Gavin a credible character, at all. It’s like the author wanted him to have ALL the tragic past and ALL the professional awesomeness and ALL the emotional maturity, but she also wanted him to be only 25, for whatever reason, and it just really doesn’t work. It bugged me enough that I want to break it down:
We are told that Gavin met his (now deceased) husband Eddie at 20. Eddie was 29, had a 2-year-old daughter and was apparently already a paediatrician, which… I have my doubts about that timeline also (the most basic Google search tells me that qualification takes anywhere between 9 and 15 years in the US), but whatever. Gavin and Eddie hit it off. When Gavin is 21, they get married. When Gavin is 23, Eddie dies in a car accident. Gavin is now 25 and has spent the last 2 years not working and being a single dad.
Cut to present: Gavin, who is an athletic trainer, gets hired by an NHL team. He is apparently awesome and the best ever at his job and everyone raves about him. BUT. This makes no sense. You can be an athletic trainer with a Bachelor’s, but apparently lots of employers prefer a Master’s (as I’m assuming an NHL team would), and in fact, Gavin does confirm at one point that he has a post-grad qualification. Cool, but if he finished his undergrad at an average age of 21 (the same time he got married), he would’ve finished his Master’s no earlier than at 23 (when his husband died and his 2-year period of not working started). So, apart from whatever practical training modules and internships would have been part of his education, this 25-year-old man has never worked full-time in this very demanding field and has a 2-year gap in his resumé but gets hired right away by an NHL team and is an absolute star at his job despite having next to zero experience? Yeah, no.
He's also super-responsible and super-emotionally aware and does not encounter a single problem parenting his 7-year-old, apart from an overbearing grandmother threatening to sue him for custody (and then completely reforming off-page for no reason, rendering that conflict entirely pointless halfway through). But he’s a star at parenting as well, and the kid is perfect and easy. And his previous marriage is reminisced about as being the most perfect relationship ever, but apart from one drunken night on an anniversary, Gavin is totally grounded and healthy and over the grieving process after two years. (This is a big part of why I don’t generally like the dead spouse trope in romance, because authors so often try to sell both the deceased spouse and the current love interest as so out of this world perfect soulmate matches, and… idk, if that first relationship was so incredibly perfect, I don’t believe you’d be over it after two years. To her credit, I *think* Bowen was going for a “you can have more than one ‘The One’” thing, but the way she both oversold and sidelined the Eddie history just wasn’t working.)
I know I’m banging on, but I think the main reason it annoys me so much is because this was a relatively easy thing to fix. Gavin doesn’t behave or think like a 25-year-old (no matter how matured by responsibility and tragedy) in any way, and the obvious solution was to make him five to ten years older. But no, we must have ALL the OTT drama but the man can NOT be even in his late twenties, for whatever reason. Okay then.
The pacing was also weird; there are months-long time skips at several points, and at least one of them summarises a number of things that had been set up as important previously (the grandma drama, telling the kid about his new relationship, spending time as a normal couple), as if the author had grown bored of her own outline and decided to hurry things along. The third-act break-up and the grand declaration were pretty by the numbers, and the only thing I found really interesting about that final quarter was the resolution of the hockey drama. Which, kudos for making me care about the one thing that’s usually just window-dressing to me, lol. But it would have been nice to be made to care about the actual romance a little bit more as well.
My biggest problem with this is still that I don’t find Gavin a credible character, at all. It’s like the author wanted him to have ALL the tragic past and ALL the professional awesomeness and ALL the emotional maturity, but she also wanted him to be only 25, for whatever reason, and it just really doesn’t work. It bugged me enough that I want to break it down:
We are told that Gavin met his (now deceased) husband Eddie at 20. Eddie was 29, had a 2-year-old daughter and was apparently already a paediatrician, which… I have my doubts about that timeline also (the most basic Google search tells me that qualification takes anywhere between 9 and 15 years in the US), but whatever. Gavin and Eddie hit it off. When Gavin is 21, they get married. When Gavin is 23, Eddie dies in a car accident. Gavin is now 25 and has spent the last 2 years not working and being a single dad.
Cut to present: Gavin, who is an athletic trainer, gets hired by an NHL team. He is apparently awesome and the best ever at his job and everyone raves about him. BUT. This makes no sense. You can be an athletic trainer with a Bachelor’s, but apparently lots of employers prefer a Master’s (as I’m assuming an NHL team would), and in fact, Gavin does confirm at one point that he has a post-grad qualification. Cool, but if he finished his undergrad at an average age of 21 (the same time he got married), he would’ve finished his Master’s no earlier than at 23 (when his husband died and his 2-year period of not working started). So, apart from whatever practical training modules and internships would have been part of his education, this 25-year-old man has never worked full-time in this very demanding field and has a 2-year gap in his resumé but gets hired right away by an NHL team and is an absolute star at his job despite having next to zero experience? Yeah, no.
He's also super-responsible and super-emotionally aware and does not encounter a single problem parenting his 7-year-old, apart from an overbearing grandmother threatening to sue him for custody (and then completely reforming off-page for no reason, rendering that conflict entirely pointless halfway through). But he’s a star at parenting as well, and the kid is perfect and easy. And his previous marriage is reminisced about as being the most perfect relationship ever, but apart from one drunken night on an anniversary, Gavin is totally grounded and healthy and over the grieving process after two years. (This is a big part of why I don’t generally like the dead spouse trope in romance, because authors so often try to sell both the deceased spouse and the current love interest as so out of this world perfect soulmate matches, and… idk, if that first relationship was so incredibly perfect, I don’t believe you’d be over it after two years. To her credit, I *think* Bowen was going for a “you can have more than one ‘The One’” thing, but the way she both oversold and sidelined the Eddie history just wasn’t working.)
I know I’m banging on, but I think the main reason it annoys me so much is because this was a relatively easy thing to fix. Gavin doesn’t behave or think like a 25-year-old (no matter how matured by responsibility and tragedy) in any way, and the obvious solution was to make him five to ten years older. But no, we must have ALL the OTT drama but the man can NOT be even in his late twenties, for whatever reason. Okay then.
The pacing was also weird; there are months-long time skips at several points, and at least one of them summarises a number of things that had been set up as important previously (the grandma drama, telling the kid about his new relationship, spending time as a normal couple), as if the author had grown bored of her own outline and decided to hurry things along. The third-act break-up and the grand declaration were pretty by the numbers, and the only thing I found really interesting about that final quarter was the resolution of the hockey drama. Which, kudos for making me care about the one thing that’s usually just window-dressing to me, lol. But it would have been nice to be made to care about the actual romance a little bit more as well.
March 21, 2023
5+++++ STARS AUDIO
3 closeted stars story. This seems to be a theme for this author. It's gotten old.
3 closeted stars story. This seems to be a theme for this author. It's gotten old.
dnf
July 26, 20247% - Not working for me for some reason
December 6, 2025
I can’t believe this took me over a month to finish lol.
This story follows Gavin - a widowed hockey trainer raising his dead husbands daughter, and Hudson - an in the closet hockey star. They also happen to be neighbours and share an apartment wall - convenient!!
This is a weird one for me. It was fine, it was good, but it didn’t have me engaged at all which is crazy for a Sarina Bowen book. Main reasons would be: not enough spice, not enough tension, not enough relationship. Too much hockey in some places.
It was good but if you know me and how fast I read you can probably figure out that this taking me over a month is absolutely diabolical. I will be continuing the series but only because I’ve already bought the books LOL
I kind of recommend but only if you have nothing else to read BAHA
This story follows Gavin - a widowed hockey trainer raising his dead husbands daughter, and Hudson - an in the closet hockey star. They also happen to be neighbours and share an apartment wall - convenient!!
This is a weird one for me. It was fine, it was good, but it didn’t have me engaged at all which is crazy for a Sarina Bowen book. Main reasons would be: not enough spice, not enough tension, not enough relationship. Too much hockey in some places.
It was good but if you know me and how fast I read you can probably figure out that this taking me over a month is absolutely diabolical. I will be continuing the series but only because I’ve already bought the books LOL
I kind of recommend but only if you have nothing else to read BAHA
February 5, 2023
Sarina Bowen’s BACK in M/M romance, and I am HERE FOR IT. The New Guy is everything I adore about romance—heart, steam, charming but compelling characters you can’t help but root for, and a deep love story that hits you all in the feels and keeps you guessing. From the very first page, The New Guy hooks you into this stirring, emotional love story about a single dad who has lost his husband and the rootless hockey player who’s been traded too many times. Hudson and Gavin are two lonely souls who find each other under circumstances that don’t quite work for the outside world. Hudson’s not out; Gavin’s got a kid to think about. Both have emotional baggage. There’s something about watching love growing between two people who each find themselves not ready or not worthy for it. *Shivers* Experiencing them navigate their forbidden relationship is an absolute pleasure. DO NOT MISS THE NEW GUY.
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