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Pucking My Brother's Best Friend
I accidentally made my brother’s best friend my podcast co-host—and now we’re fake-dating for content…and hooking up for real.
It was supposed to be a one-time thing.
Liam Sullivan crashed my recording session thinking it was a sports interview—I panicked and introduced him as my new co-host.
The episode went viral.
Now I’m stuck hosting a dating podcast with the campus heartthrob, hockey star, and guy I swore I’d never fall for.
The fans vote for us to test our own advice on-air.
So we fake-date.
We pretend to flirt.
And then…we stop pretending.
He touches me like I’m something precious—not just a podcast gimmick.
Holds me like he’s afraid to let go.
And somewhere between his laugh and the way he says my name,
I fall so hard I forget we were ever faking.
There’s just one problem.
If my brother finds out, it could destroy everything.
But I’ve finally found something real—something worth fighting for.
And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take it away.
A sweet-but-spicy college hockey romance featuring off-limits tension, forbidden feels, and the one man she was never supposed to want.
It was supposed to be a one-time thing.
Liam Sullivan crashed my recording session thinking it was a sports interview—I panicked and introduced him as my new co-host.
The episode went viral.
Now I’m stuck hosting a dating podcast with the campus heartthrob, hockey star, and guy I swore I’d never fall for.
The fans vote for us to test our own advice on-air.
So we fake-date.
We pretend to flirt.
And then…we stop pretending.
He touches me like I’m something precious—not just a podcast gimmick.
Holds me like he’s afraid to let go.
And somewhere between his laugh and the way he says my name,
I fall so hard I forget we were ever faking.
There’s just one problem.
If my brother finds out, it could destroy everything.
But I’ve finally found something real—something worth fighting for.
And I’ll be damned if I let anyone take it away.
A sweet-but-spicy college hockey romance featuring off-limits tension, forbidden feels, and the one man she was never supposed to want.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 4, 2025
Piper and Liam . . .
Piper Olive prepares her morning breakfast, a green smoothie her roommate Abigail wrinkles her nose at. Piper is heading to the studio at 10am on Saturday to record her podcast interview of a player on her brother Derek’s hockey team. She is promoting a dating and relationship podcast based on research and practical advice rather than lovey feelings and clichés, hoping to be invited into the Williamson Fellowship and be taken seriously. She arrives at the studio but Marcus isn’t there. When she texts, he suddenly remembers that he forgot to tell her he can’t do this anymore, believing relationships are about passion not spreadsheets, and is now working for the sports podcast guys instead. In a panic, she has to come up with something else, maybe a straight interview even if it isn’t the “Love & Logic” theme. Then she gets an idea: Introduce the hockey player as her new co-host? It will work or ruin her, but she has to do something. Who has Marcus signed up for her?
Liam Sullivan arrived precisely on time (well, with 30 seconds to spare, even though it took a miracle to get there) and was thinking this was a typical sports interview -- until he was introduced as the co-host! She started by telling him she believed in a research-based approach to dating, reporting that “couples establishing clear communication protocols in the first three months of dating have a 64% higher success rate”. Without a pause, he smoothly responded that in his experience, the best relationships happen when you stop overthinking and just... connect. Game on! Their arguments were perfect! His philosophy was to live in the moment because sometimes you gotta let life be messy! The producer has been listening in open-mouthed in amazement the entire time. And then questions rolled in for them. It was working! The fans want them to test their theories with each other and they begin to fake-date. And even the fake part doesn’t last long. But if her brother finds out, will Liam try to honor the bro-code? Or is what they have the “real thing” and worth keeping forever?
Piper Olive prepares her morning breakfast, a green smoothie her roommate Abigail wrinkles her nose at. Piper is heading to the studio at 10am on Saturday to record her podcast interview of a player on her brother Derek’s hockey team. She is promoting a dating and relationship podcast based on research and practical advice rather than lovey feelings and clichés, hoping to be invited into the Williamson Fellowship and be taken seriously. She arrives at the studio but Marcus isn’t there. When she texts, he suddenly remembers that he forgot to tell her he can’t do this anymore, believing relationships are about passion not spreadsheets, and is now working for the sports podcast guys instead. In a panic, she has to come up with something else, maybe a straight interview even if it isn’t the “Love & Logic” theme. Then she gets an idea: Introduce the hockey player as her new co-host? It will work or ruin her, but she has to do something. Who has Marcus signed up for her?
Liam Sullivan arrived precisely on time (well, with 30 seconds to spare, even though it took a miracle to get there) and was thinking this was a typical sports interview -- until he was introduced as the co-host! She started by telling him she believed in a research-based approach to dating, reporting that “couples establishing clear communication protocols in the first three months of dating have a 64% higher success rate”. Without a pause, he smoothly responded that in his experience, the best relationships happen when you stop overthinking and just... connect. Game on! Their arguments were perfect! His philosophy was to live in the moment because sometimes you gotta let life be messy! The producer has been listening in open-mouthed in amazement the entire time. And then questions rolled in for them. It was working! The fans want them to test their theories with each other and they begin to fake-date. And even the fake part doesn’t last long. But if her brother finds out, will Liam try to honor the bro-code? Or is what they have the “real thing” and worth keeping forever?
August 19, 2025
Ambushed into co-hosting a podcast Liam with the first meeting with piper. She’s all statics and spreadsheets where Liam is more spontaneous and goes with the flow. But the more they get into with the podcast the more they start feeling but piper is off limits because she is the sister to Derek who is on Liam’s hockey team and they have ‘the sister rule’ but what they are building is just research project any nothing more.
Right, but the the longer they have the podcast the more in depth conversations and connections that Liam and piper have together and soon the lines blur and they are seeing that they are both falling for another until one secret crashes it all down. Her internship is why this whole thing was started with the podcast, now will their bullheadedness and feelings be able to push through the miscommunication and feelings that they didn’t want to have the other one regress when one decision was made? Will the podcast go on and will Liam and piper be able to move past this dip in their relationship and make a go of it as graduation is on the horizon and decisions need to be made.
He was known as the not serious about relationship class clown, but when one brown eyed spreadsheet pier make him question everything and allow his to push himself like he never has before.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Right, but the the longer they have the podcast the more in depth conversations and connections that Liam and piper have together and soon the lines blur and they are seeing that they are both falling for another until one secret crashes it all down. Her internship is why this whole thing was started with the podcast, now will their bullheadedness and feelings be able to push through the miscommunication and feelings that they didn’t want to have the other one regress when one decision was made? Will the podcast go on and will Liam and piper be able to move past this dip in their relationship and make a go of it as graduation is on the horizon and decisions need to be made.
He was known as the not serious about relationship class clown, but when one brown eyed spreadsheet pier make him question everything and allow his to push himself like he never has before.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 8, 2025
Liam and Piper's Story
The second book in the series continues the story of the UB hockey players and the women and friends in their lives.
Liam Sullivan was roommates with Kellan and Derek in the first book, with Wren moving in with them after the flood in her apartment. Liam was portrayed as a jokster and friendly, seeing the Kellan/Wren before anyone.
In this book, Liam is a much more complex character, still grieving his older brother's death after 6 years. Like Kellan, he is being pushed into hockey to fulfill someone else's destiny. Like Kellan, he loves hockey for his own future and dreams.
Enter Piper Thompson, Derek's younger sister. She transferred to UB at the beginning of the book as a communication major. She tricks Liam into co-hosting a podcast about love and dating.
Of course, Derek is upset about Liam getting involved with Piper.
Piper is annoyingly compulsive about everything, and she isn't honest with Liam about her desire to move to NY for her last 2 years of college.
The book is entertaining, primarily because Liam and his friends are fun to follow. The love story is fun even if their attraction is a bit of a stretch.
The second book in the series continues the story of the UB hockey players and the women and friends in their lives.
Liam Sullivan was roommates with Kellan and Derek in the first book, with Wren moving in with them after the flood in her apartment. Liam was portrayed as a jokster and friendly, seeing the Kellan/Wren before anyone.
In this book, Liam is a much more complex character, still grieving his older brother's death after 6 years. Like Kellan, he is being pushed into hockey to fulfill someone else's destiny. Like Kellan, he loves hockey for his own future and dreams.
Enter Piper Thompson, Derek's younger sister. She transferred to UB at the beginning of the book as a communication major. She tricks Liam into co-hosting a podcast about love and dating.
Of course, Derek is upset about Liam getting involved with Piper.
Piper is annoyingly compulsive about everything, and she isn't honest with Liam about her desire to move to NY for her last 2 years of college.
The book is entertaining, primarily because Liam and his friends are fun to follow. The love story is fun even if their attraction is a bit of a stretch.
July 2, 2025
When Liam shows up for an interview at the school studio he doesn't expect to be coerced to being a co-host of the show. Piper is desperate after her co-host quit just minutes before the Hockey hunk arrived for his interview. Their opposing opinions and chemistry goes viral and now they find themselves hosting a weekly relationship podcast. As they get to know each other they soon realized that their opposite outlooks on life actually compliment each other. The only problem is Piper is his best friend and teammate's sister and off limits. Loved how she was such a book nerd and he was so relaxed but they suited each other so well. This book has it all, great banter, humour and just the right amount of heat to keep you hooked.
July 4, 2025
This book hooked me from page one and THAT SCENE?! IYKYK 😳🔥
Kali Kendrick absolutely nailed the fake-dating + opposites attract combo, and the tension? UNREAL. The dynamic between the sweet sunshine and the broody hockey player was everything, and the forbidden “brother’s best friend” angle made it all the more delicious.
This was my first book by Kali Kendrick and I’m already diving into the rest of her hockey romances. If you love spicy sports romance with a big heart, laugh out loud banter, and scenes you will not stop thinking about do yourself a favor and grab this one.
Kali Kendrick absolutely nailed the fake-dating + opposites attract combo, and the tension? UNREAL. The dynamic between the sweet sunshine and the broody hockey player was everything, and the forbidden “brother’s best friend” angle made it all the more delicious.
This was my first book by Kali Kendrick and I’m already diving into the rest of her hockey romances. If you love spicy sports romance with a big heart, laugh out loud banter, and scenes you will not stop thinking about do yourself a favor and grab this one.
July 13, 2025
Worth the lack of sleep
Liam thinks he is going to the radio station for a sports interview. Little does he know it will change his life when Piper blows his spontaneity off the ice. And Piper' s color coded plans are wrecked when she realizes the you can only plans the concrete things of life.
I was so invested in this story that I had to wake up in the middle of the night to finish it.
Liam thinks he is going to the radio station for a sports interview. Little does he know it will change his life when Piper blows his spontaneity off the ice. And Piper' s color coded plans are wrecked when she realizes the you can only plans the concrete things of life.
I was so invested in this story that I had to wake up in the middle of the night to finish it.
June 30, 2025
I received this as an ARC. I just want to say that Kali Kendrick does it again. I love her hockey romances. They are all so good and draw you right in. This one was no exception. Liam and Piper’s story was fun right from the beginning and just builds from there. I also loved seeing old friends from an earlier work of Kali’s. I’m ready for the next book she writes!
July 1, 2025
I loved this book. So many giggle moments because of the great banter. I loved seeing characters from previous books be a large part of the story. Well written with great steam and wonderful characters. There is a little angst near the end that Piper brings on herself. I loved seeing Derek so clueless and hope Piper and Liam are included in his story. A wonderful HEA.
July 27, 2025
This story is fun and lighthearted with wonderful characters and great banter. Piper and Liam are. complete opposites but they work really well together. This story was really good, I was pulled in right from the start. A fantastic hockey romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 24, 2025
Loved piper and Liam through this! I appreciate how it wasn’t an insta love, but developed through them truly getting to know each other. I love that Liam found something other than hockey to love! Too many authors make hockey romances 100% about the players love of hockey. I would much prefer them be a little more well rounded like Liam!
July 2, 2025
Ok. This was fantastic. The chemistry between Liam and Piper is so crazy good. These two make really great examples of communication for relationships. Great spicy scenes! I do wish there was an epilogue that showed what happened the next day. Highly recommend this book!
August 16, 2026
I loved the adorable chemistry between Brynn and Jace. Knowing they were childhood best friends who secretly harbored feelings for each other but were both afraid to tell the other. And then finally they both act on it and everything comes out. And there is a HEA!!
August 21, 2025
This book needed some editing
September 19, 2026
this book is surprisingly nicely written. the conversation and all ugh it was so good. 3.8 tbh
July 2, 2025
Piper accidentally made Liam her cohost on her podcast and not knowing how well the listeners were going to respond. Piper and Liam have an opposite opinions. Enjoyed reading this wonderful brother’s best friend with amazing banter, fake dating, secret relationship, and mutual feelings!
July 5, 2025
Kali Kendrick knocked this book out of the hockey rink. This book was so good and I could not put down. Its basically perfection for me. Piper and Liam brought out every emotion. Their banter, humor, tension, chemistry was so solid. It was so well written. I highly recommend this story, series and author!
June 26, 2025
*** ARC review ***
* Not a must, but read Pucking The Grump Next Door before to understand some of the characters.
If your favorite tropes are hockey, fake dating and forbidden romance then add this to your list!
If you ever wondered what it would be like if you took the FMC out of an Ali Hazelwood’s STEM genre and then took the MMC hockey player out of a sports romance genre and wrote a book about them, then this is the answer!
Piper and Liam are completely different in the way they approach things, she’s all research and statistics, while he’s going with the flow. I just absolutely loved them as a couple that I was sad to finish the book and had to say goodbye to them.
* Not a must, but read Pucking The Grump Next Door before to understand some of the characters.
If your favorite tropes are hockey, fake dating and forbidden romance then add this to your list!
If you ever wondered what it would be like if you took the FMC out of an Ali Hazelwood’s STEM genre and then took the MMC hockey player out of a sports romance genre and wrote a book about them, then this is the answer!
Piper and Liam are completely different in the way they approach things, she’s all research and statistics, while he’s going with the flow. I just absolutely loved them as a couple that I was sad to finish the book and had to say goodbye to them.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews