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Pucked Up Hearts #1
Puck Buddy
Fake dating the university hockey team captain was supposed to be business.
It was NOT supposed to turn my life upside-down.
I'm Bella Lawson—straight A's and zero tolerance for chaos. So when I offer to tutor Ryan O'Sullivan, academic disaster and Seattle's most desired bachelor, for one fake date...I’ve definitely lost my mind.
My plan? Make my longtime crush jealous by showing up to his party with the hottest guy on campus. Simple. Clean. Foolproof.
Except Ryan O'Sullivan doesn't do anything simple.
He kisses me like he owns me. Shows up when I need him most and makes me forget this is all pretend.
And suddenly I'm in love with the wrong freaking guy.
Now my crush wants me back, but all I can think about is the way Ryan touches me like I'm a goddess.
And now I have to choose between the safe future I planned, or the hockey player who's about to change everything I held sacred.
It was NOT supposed to turn my life upside-down.
I'm Bella Lawson—straight A's and zero tolerance for chaos. So when I offer to tutor Ryan O'Sullivan, academic disaster and Seattle's most desired bachelor, for one fake date...I’ve definitely lost my mind.
My plan? Make my longtime crush jealous by showing up to his party with the hottest guy on campus. Simple. Clean. Foolproof.
Except Ryan O'Sullivan doesn't do anything simple.
He kisses me like he owns me. Shows up when I need him most and makes me forget this is all pretend.
And suddenly I'm in love with the wrong freaking guy.
Now my crush wants me back, but all I can think about is the way Ryan touches me like I'm a goddess.
And now I have to choose between the safe future I planned, or the hockey player who's about to change everything I held sacred.
- GenresSports
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 26, 2025
2.5
Idk how I feel about this, the beginning was extremely fast paced which I kind of understand as it’s only a 130 page book but it just made me unconvinced that the characters could actually have any real interest in each other, the middle got better and then it just sped up a crazy amount again. Bella’s also lowkey stupid and so easily manipulated which wasn’t the best to read. On the other hand this is what I needed to read right now, super quick (read in an hour) and the writing was good! and I did have a decent time reading it so I can’t complain too much
(This was crazy though… “Because the more time I spend with Bella Lawson, the less fake this whole thing feels.” Chapter two btw and they’ve only met twice)
Idk how I feel about this, the beginning was extremely fast paced which I kind of understand as it’s only a 130 page book but it just made me unconvinced that the characters could actually have any real interest in each other, the middle got better and then it just sped up a crazy amount again. Bella’s also lowkey stupid and so easily manipulated which wasn’t the best to read. On the other hand this is what I needed to read right now, super quick (read in an hour) and the writing was good! and I did have a decent time reading it so I can’t complain too much
(This was crazy though… “Because the more time I spend with Bella Lawson, the less fake this whole thing feels.” Chapter two btw and they’ve only met twice)
July 24, 2025
The writing and the pace feels rushed and without love to the characters.
In general the story is pretty basic. Nerd (a bit too extreme on my opinion) and the dumb hockey player (who isn’t that dumb after all) who needs tutoring and therefore is easily talked into a fake dating gig.
Ryan basically falls in love right away and is open about the sincerity of his feelings.
On the other hand we have the FMC who feels quite uptight and frankly only book smart. She’s lustig after a guy that she is „friends“ with but doesn’t really interact with?
We never learn what was so appealing about Tanner besides his work ethic and career goals? Feels like more of a description for your new hire than a love interest.
But on the other hand we also don’t know anything about Ryan or even the FMC (I even forgot her name straight away). Everything is so superficial that I didn’t care if they lived or died.
At one point (about 60 pages in) it was mentioned that 6 months have already passed?! Huh? Sure to explain the „I love yous“? But from the story content?
I loved the part when Ryan defended his role on the side of the FMC with telling her that professional athletes are also under a lot of pressure?! Duh? This is what makes me think Bella (?) was a bit dense herself?
And the two meetings with Tanner? What even was that? You want to tell me; the FMC falls in love with the nice hockey player and when the „other guy“ tells her: hey, your boy isn’t into investment banking, ever thought about all the conflict potential“ the FMC goes all doe eyes and needs to contemplate her choices? Are you for real?
It felt like this was the mere outline of a potential book.
In general the story is pretty basic. Nerd (a bit too extreme on my opinion) and the dumb hockey player (who isn’t that dumb after all) who needs tutoring and therefore is easily talked into a fake dating gig.
Ryan basically falls in love right away and is open about the sincerity of his feelings.
On the other hand we have the FMC who feels quite uptight and frankly only book smart. She’s lustig after a guy that she is „friends“ with but doesn’t really interact with?
We never learn what was so appealing about Tanner besides his work ethic and career goals? Feels like more of a description for your new hire than a love interest.
But on the other hand we also don’t know anything about Ryan or even the FMC (I even forgot her name straight away). Everything is so superficial that I didn’t care if they lived or died.
At one point (about 60 pages in) it was mentioned that 6 months have already passed?! Huh? Sure to explain the „I love yous“? But from the story content?
I loved the part when Ryan defended his role on the side of the FMC with telling her that professional athletes are also under a lot of pressure?! Duh? This is what makes me think Bella (?) was a bit dense herself?
And the two meetings with Tanner? What even was that? You want to tell me; the FMC falls in love with the nice hockey player and when the „other guy“ tells her: hey, your boy isn’t into investment banking, ever thought about all the conflict potential“ the FMC goes all doe eyes and needs to contemplate her choices? Are you for real?
It felt like this was the mere outline of a potential book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2025
4★
Tropes:
Fake dating
Sports romance hockey
Hockey Captain Ryan knocks a stand of mugs over in Victrola the coffe shop, while looking for more cash on him Bella goes forward to the counter giving him the $50 and starting a proposal that she’ll help him study in economics if he fake dates her to make Tanner jealous.
Loved their tension and banter, don’t love how quickly it went from fake dating to I love you. Knowing it’s a short novella makes me overlook it, this totally could have been a longer book and I would’ve loved it though, loved their characters.
Not necessarily a bad thing, but almost was annoying how much “Isn’t it?” Is used idk.
Bella gets accepted into UW university of Washington masters program of economics, Ryan gets signed with his first professional hockey team. The AHL Coachella valley team that’s affiliated with the Seattle Kraken.
The like epilogue was so cute I just wished it was longer, honestly wish the whole thing was longer haha
The wedding cake toppers so so cute I loved that detail.
Tropes:
Fake dating
Sports romance hockey
Hockey Captain Ryan knocks a stand of mugs over in Victrola the coffe shop, while looking for more cash on him Bella goes forward to the counter giving him the $50 and starting a proposal that she’ll help him study in economics if he fake dates her to make Tanner jealous.
Loved their tension and banter, don’t love how quickly it went from fake dating to I love you. Knowing it’s a short novella makes me overlook it, this totally could have been a longer book and I would’ve loved it though, loved their characters.
Not necessarily a bad thing, but almost was annoying how much “Isn’t it?” Is used idk.
Bella gets accepted into UW university of Washington masters program of economics, Ryan gets signed with his first professional hockey team. The AHL Coachella valley team that’s affiliated with the Seattle Kraken.
The like epilogue was so cute I just wished it was longer, honestly wish the whole thing was longer haha
The wedding cake toppers so so cute I loved that detail.
January 27, 2026
This was a short read. Bella and Ryan enter a fake dating situation. It felt rushed and some things changed from one chapter to the next. For example he wins the game 4-2, however in the next chapter they say the score was 3-1. Timelines got mixed up, like the meeting her parents situation. The book has potential however I feel like it needs better editing to have it be consistent and make more sense.
December 31, 2025
What did I just read? This book felt like it had multiple chapters that were missing. What do you mean they fell in love after one study session and date? Why were they planning their careers around each other after 1 week of dating? Make it make sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2025
Quick easy enjoyable read. Started and finished on my 3 hour flight. Not a lot of back story, right to the point without to much fluff.
July 29, 2025
this book just jumps around a lot. the plot is basic but the meat isn't there. I finished it but eh, would read it again/recommend.
November 27, 2025
I’m a sucker for faking dating, athlete falling for the nerd. It’s the perfect combination. I ate this up and couldn’t stop smiling while listening to it.
Free on audible.
Free on audible.
December 12, 2025
This was a cute, quick read. Fake dating, opposites attract... predictable but satisfying. No spice. Decent plot, really fun characters.
April 30, 2026
The storyline had potential, but the execution didn’t quite deliver.
May 15, 2026
I thought it was a pretty good book
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews