Evening the Score

by Lexi LaFleur Brown

USA TODAY bestselling author, NHL insider, and TikTok influencer Lexi LaFleur Brown is back with another trope-packed, spicy, hockey-accurate rom com!

Don't get mad — get even.

A grudge hates to see Olivia Hinckley coming. Years ago, a dirty hit ended her late father’s NHL career with the Minnesota Freeze. It was never fair that Erik Parker walked away with little more than a penalty, but it’s worse that her father's rival is now up for Hall of Fame induction. On top of that, Erik's son—hockey’s golden boy, Brody—just signed on to play for the Freeze. Determined to dismantle the Parker legacy, Olivia enacts a revenge plot that has her donning the Freeze’s mascot costume to gain intel on the Parkers. And she can’t help but mess with Brody’s gameplay—and his heart for good measure. After all, what’s a little fake dating between enemies?

Brody Parker only ever wanted to play hockey for fun, but the pressure of being part of hockey’s “First Family” has him dodging nepotism allegations along with high sticks. Erik might act like Father of the Year when the cameras are on, but behind closed doors, Brody struggles with his father’s impossible expectations. Preserving Erik’s image is a full-time job, but lucky for Brody, his new connection with Olivia is a welcome (spicy) distraction.

When Brody finally opens up to Olivia, she never expected she’d pity a Parker for anything. Suddenly, she wants to protect her once-enemy. The romantic feelings she faked are now unexpectedly real, but after leading Brody on for so long, can she keep the lies and the truth straight before she accidentally blows up his whole life?

FOR FANS Fake dating He falls first Secret identity Adversaires to lovers Bookish heroes

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Hockey, Audiobook, Sports, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Lexi LaFleur Brown is the Indigenous, USA TODAY bestselling author known for witty, emotional, hockey-packed rom-coms like Evening The Score and Shoot Your Shot. She has an MS in Public Relations and a PhD in Education. With a large social media following, she advocates for greater inclusivity in hockey, cracks jokes, and shares glimpses into her post-meet-cute hockey life. Lexi currently resides in Seattle, WA, with her family. When she’s not writing her next love story, you’ll find her beading or in the goal crease.

Reviews

[yvonne ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★.25

i love a good revenge plot in a story and while evening the score did a good job with this trope, it fell a bit flat in other aspects of the story.

i enjoyed the banter between the main characters, olivia and brody, though some of their dialogue was a bit cringey. it wasn’t enough for me to completely stop reading. the humor in this book was top notch and definitely had me laughing at multiple scenes. it was also way more comical to me than romantic. it was clear they liked each other but the chemistry did lack a bit towards the end. so the romance was a bit lackluster but the main characters overall were enjoyable. i love how olivia was written as a woman who was struggling with the death of her father. you could feel how angry and grief stricken she still was after 7 years. brody was a green flag despite him being a bit too gullible. but it was so heartwarming seeing him reconnect with his mother again. i also enjoyed the representation that was filled throughout the story.

this book is perfect if you’re looking for a lighthearted hockey romance with very accurate hockey knowledge. an easy and enjoyable read!

thank you to netgalley and harlequin trade for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[jade ⋆₊˚ ᰔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & Lexi Lafleur Brown for the opportunity to read this as an ARC for feedback


4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 🌶️


tropes:
•revenge plot
•toxic family legacy
•team mascot + nhl player
•secret identity
•fake dating

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

this book was a fun and heartfelt read that really leaned into the author’s knowledge of hockey <33

brody’s journey was the standout for me. his family history, the pressure he carried, and the way he tried to rise above it all gave his character so much depth. i really felt for him and found myself rooting for him from the first chapter. the romance between him and olivia was sweet and engaging, and i flew through the pages because i wanted to see how it all played out. i even cried a few times because some moments really tugged at my heart.

olivia was where i struggled a bit more. i enjoyed her character and the idea behind her plan, but there were parts of her storyline that felt a little unrealistic and drawn out. the fake dating was cute and fun, but sometimes i caught myself thinking girl be for real because of how far she pushed things. still, the chemistry between them worked, and the softer moments between the two really landed for me.

overall, this was fun, emotional, and super engaging. the revenge angle, the toxic family legacy, and the secret identity twist added a lot of drama, but there was also so much heart underneath it. the ending left me really satisfied, and as this was my first book by lexi lafleur brown, i’m genuinely looking forward to reading more from her. if you like hockey romances with big feelings and a little chaos, this one definitely delivers.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you HarperCollins for the advanced copy of Evening the Score!
💫💫💫 | Out May 26, 2026!

Evening the Score is a hockey romance with a dual POV following Olivia Hinckley and Brody Parker. Olivia seeks revenge on Brody’s father for injuring her own father who played in the NHL, forcing an early retirement and family struggle. She begins her plan by getting close to Brody, which unfurls a whirlwind of events, including becoming the secret mascot for his NHL team, the Minnesota Freeze.

The premise itself is engaging and has some great tropes, including fake dating, hockey romance, and high stakes, and Brody is so easy to like. I also loved how this is a true hockey romance with many details about the sport, rather than having hockey simply be a backdrop of the story. I also loved that it brought attention to women in hockey!

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Lexi’s sophomore novel. The banter between Olivia and Brody was perfect and I found myself laughing out loud. It was a fun revenge fake dating to healing and finding your person journey. I also LOVED the women in hockey representation, PWHL mentions and the indigenous representation.

[Voice of a Trueheart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I usually love rival or enemies-to-lovers stories, so I went into this book expecting to really enjoy it, but it just didn’t work for me.
The whole revenge plot felt really hard to take seriously. The main character is driven to get revenge for something that happened to her father before she was even born, which already felt like a stretch. But then it gets even more frustrating when she decides to target the son of the man who hurt her dad… like, what?? He literally had nothing to do with it. That motivation just didn’t feel believable, and it made it hard to connect with her or root for her at all.
Because of that, a lot of her actions came across as petty or forced rather than justified. Instead of feeling like a strong, determined character, she just felt frustrating to follow. I kept waiting for some kind of growth or realization, but it either came too late or didn’t feel convincing enough to make up for everything before it.
The romance was also just… not it. There was basically no chemistry between the characters, so the relationship didn’t feel believable or worth rooting for. Since the conflict was already built on such a weak foundation, the tension between them felt completely manufactured instead of natural or emotional.

And I have to say..one moment that really made me cringe was when he gave her his jersey… and she GAGGED??? Like, how old are you? That reaction felt so over the top and ridiculous.

That being said, one positive thing I will give this book is the author’s knowledge of hockey. The sports elements felt well-researched and realistic, which added a bit of authenticity to the story.
Overall, there were just too many things that annoyed me while reading, and it took me out of the story completely. I can see what the author was trying to do, but the execution didn’t work for me. Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC and allowing me to give my honest review

[miracle]

If there's one thing I love, it's a revenge-turned-romance and this one has a sports mascot? Sold. I came for Lexi's humor and stayed for Brody's sweet self slowly winning Olivia over. Another fun one from Lexi LaFleur Brown!

[Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Evening the Score!

Overall Impression

⭐️: 2/5
🌶️: 1.5/5

Tropes: Enemies to lovers (loosely, it’s not mutual), fake dating (kind of, since they both think the other actually wants it), secret identity (how do you NOT know someone’s last name after a first date?), revenge plot

I was excited about this book and really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t… Let’s get into it.

—————————————————————————————————

The Writing/Plot/Characters

The writing fell flat for me. The choppy sentences felt like checking off a to-do list where a well-written description should be. Half the time, I didn’t know how we got from A to B. I reread multiple chapters to figure out how one sentence got us from casual conversation with no emotional charge to “steamy” sex.

I honestly enjoyed Brody’s character. I applaud him for trying to get out from under Erik’s thumb. What a healthy adult. Did he need to learn a little in the romance department? Yes. Not all girls are puck bunnies who fall to their knees at a pretty smile (the one good thing Olivia had going for her). But he figured it out! Was it rude of him to use Olivia to keep Erik away? Yes. But at least he wasn’t putting icy hot in her panties and trying to embarrass her on local television. I honestly felt bad for him for having to deal with Olivia.

Olivia deserved to be hit by a car. She was insufferable, and I honestly just hated her. We get it, your dad died, it was traumatizing, and you made it your whole personality. But your dead dad is not the reason your career failed, nor is he the reason you can’t afford rent and have to live with your sister and her girlfriend in a room full of taxidermy drag queen rats. It’s also not his fault that you’re such a horrible person that your own sister doesn’t want to live with you after you made your own bed and were (finally) forced to lie in it. Playing the victim doesn’t look good on her.

What really frustrated me, was Olivia wanting to have her cake and eat it too. I understand enacting revenge on your father’s behalf, but targeting Brody, who had nothing to do with it, was so wrong. You want Brody to forgive you with no questions asked and live happily ever after when you tried to destroy his career simply because you fell in love with him and decided you didn’t want to hurt him anymore? Oooookay. What you did to Brody was WAY worse than what he did to you, and I’m proud of him for saying the same.

She was annoying and whiny, like a pre-teen getting revenge on a girl who sat by her crush in class. She needed to grow up and get over her weird obsession with Erik Parker. She should have just dated him, that would’ve been a story!

What I can say about this book is that I laughed. Sometimes maniacally when Olivia’s plans failed and Brody came away unscathed (leave the poor boy alone), but mostly from secondhand embarrassment.

The Romance

There was no believable chemistry between Brody and Olivia. “This usually works for me,” and “Girls usually love this,” don’t inspire romance. I wanted more forethought and charm. Instead, I got cockiness and getting naked for a man that just gifted you his jersey. 12th grade called, they want their relationship back.

“I can’t believe someone like Brody could enjoy nature,” was followed by “passionate” foreplay that somehow makes her finish in 20 seconds. After which, Brody points out a scar on her knee and she asks him to volunteer with her. Bedroom talk? Never heard of her.

There would be 3 minutes left in a chapter, and one of them would make the most tame suggestive comment you’ve ever heard. They would look at each other and lick their lips, and I would think to myself, “There’s no way they can have good sex with so little time left.” I was right. It would come out of nowhere, and be over as quickly as it started (all puns intended). As my fiancé said while he listened with me, “Oh, there’s time. 3 minutes? That’s plenty.” And it was plenty. Plenty enough to turn me all the way off.

Olivia saying they’re constantly fighting physical intimacy and an emotional connection was startling. I would sooner believe they’re asexual than believe they actually like each other, especially in the first half. When Olivia word vomited her feelings in the second half, it felt random considering she had just been thinking about how Brody was just using her to get away from Erik. And then all of a sudden they love each other? The whole thing felt so fake and forced, even when it was supposed to be real.

[Rach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoughtful love story between a woman still dealing with massive grief, anger, and PTSD after the death of her father 7 years earlier and a man desperately trying to separate himself from the toxic legacy his terrible father is constantly trying to force onto him. Of course, the same man is responsible for both Olivia and Brody’s issues: his dad, Erik, a mean, abusive narcissist who has not only made Brody and his mom’s life hell but is the player who ended Olivia’s dad’s career and life with a dirty hit that went unpunished. The emotional thunderstorms in this book are unsurprising given the character’s backstories. Olivia, of course, wants to hate Brody when she meets him because she assumes he’s just like his dad, and she comes up with a completely stupid Revenge plan that makes little sense.

I loved the representation and authenticity in this book. You can tell the author and Olivia by proxy have a deep connection to their indigenous heritage and the love of hockey that exists in their blood. I also enjoyed seeing Brody reconnect with his mom, once she’s broken free from his father, and start learning more about his Korean heritage. It’s clear that they both end up in a better place mentally and emotionally by the end of the book, but not without some really difficult confrontations and conversations. I wish they would have gone to therapy, honestly, because they both clearly needed it.

My biggest issue with this book is the clunky writing — it felt at times like the author was trying to hard to make her word choice more interesting, and they ended up just being out of place and strange. The one that stood out the most to me was when Olivia was talking Brody into getting his hair cut: “I wince at the thought of steel scissors chopping at my beloved follicles.” Follicles? Who thinks that? And why does it matter if the scissors are steel? There were also some inconsistencies in scene blocking at times, like saying a character was sitting and then suddenly they were standing on the other side of the room.

As for the character relationships, I liked Olivia and Brody’s chemistry together but I couldn’t always tell if they really liked each other or not, at least until the end. Maybe that was the point, as they fell in love and Olivia waffled between her revenge plans and being honest with Brody (who is indeed very gullible, btw. He really never googled “Olivia O’Chairlock”??). But I had a hard time figuring Quinn out — were she and Olivia really friends? And I didn’t really feel like I got to know any of the other side characters very well.

Overall, I think you’d enjoy this one if you like sports romances, especially if you’re picky about the hockey content. If it’s a massive secret, I have to imagine they would have a better cover story prepared for why the human inside the mascot is always around the arena, instead of having her make up her own, but the actual hockey play and strategy is accurate and on-point, as you might expect from a former player and former player’s spouse. I really enjoyed every time Olivia popped into a convo with the perfect tip or hockey knowledge, and can totally see how coaching is the perfect fit for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA/Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book for review purposes.

[Danielle Strona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio, for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re a fan of hockey romances, trust me, you’re going to love this one! Revenge plot? Hockey romance? Tension for days. Say less.

Olivia Hinckely has spent years harboring resentment after her father’s NHL career ended because of a terrible hit from Erik Parker. While Olivia’s dad lost everything, he couldn’t play the game anymore, Erik faced zero consequences, and now his son, Brody Parker, is about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and join the team her father used to play on. Olivia refuses to let this happen and will do anything to make sure it doesn’t. Olivia is now determined to get revenge for her dad, and Olivia comes up with the perfect plan: get close to the Parkers by becoming the team mascot and take them down from the inside. The only problem with this is that Brody is nothing like she thought, and now she can’t stop imagining life without him. Olivia never expected to feel something for Brody, and now she’s stuck wondering what happens when Brody finds out the truth. Will everything come crashing down, or will he understand why she did it?

I loved this book so much! The chemistry and tension between Brody and Olivia were so good. Even when Olivia was trying to convince herself she didn’t care about him, you can see right through it. She’s trying so hard to protect her heart, but Brody is such a good guy, he’s hard not to fall for. While it seems like he has the perfect life from the outside, he’s carrying a lot when it comes to his family and the pressure from his dad. I really loved seeing him open up to Olivia and finally have someone who truly cares about what he is going through.

The narrators did an amazing job bringing the characters to life! I loved that this novel had dual narrations because it always makes the audiobook feel more immersive to me. Getting both Olivia and Brody’s perspectives added so much to the story and made the emotional moments hit even harder.

Overall, I absolutely loved this one and highly recommend it to anyone who loves hockey romances with lots of tension, emotional moments, and a romance you can’t help rooting for.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read from Lexi Lafleur Brown and I’m officially sold. I’m so glad I picked this one up because now I’ll be diving into Shoot Your Shot soon.

Olivia is barely holding it together. She’s grieving her father, still carrying the weight of how hockey ultimately shaped, and shattered, her family. So when Brody, hockey’s golden boy, joins her local team, she sees red. In her mind, he represents everything that went wrong in her life. If she can ruin his career the way hockey ruined hers, maybe that’ll feel like justice.

What she doesn’t expect? Becoming the team’s interim mascot.

Now armed with a fuzzy disguise and a front-row seat to the action, Olivia is determined to dig up dirt on Brody and his family. If she can’t take him and his family down publicly, maybe she can get inside his head and throw off his game. But somewhere between the banter, the behind-the-scenes chaos, and seeing who Brody really is beneath the spotlight, her plan starts to unravel.

Because Brody isn’t just his last name. He isn’t just hockey and he for sure as shit is this father’s son.

And in this delicious he-falls-first romance, it becomes very clear that Olivia might be exactly what Brody’s been missing all along. Of course, that realization comes at a cost, her job, her pride, and maybe even her heart.

Their dynamic was genuinely adorable. The silly back-and-forth? Top tier. And can we please have a slow clap for that unmasking scene because WOW. An absolute mess, in the best, most chaotic way possible.

I love when a hockey romance brings something fresh to the trope, and this one absolutely did. Cute, angsty, a little unhinged, and full of heart. Count me in as a new fan.

[iam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really good time with this hockey romance! I was a bit hesitant going in as I had some bones to pick with the author's debut novel, but I am happy to say that I vibed much more with Evening the Score.

The setup of the book was so fun already: Olivia wants to ruin the Parker family, as the famiy father ruined her own father's hockey career. So when the son, Brody, start playing at her local NHL team, she pulls strings to get close to him... which leads to her taking over the role of Chilli, the team's mascot.

The mascot shenanigans could have been a bit more central in my opinions, simpyl because they were fun. At the same time, they also acted as comedic relief, but at times veered too much into the overly comical or even absurd, which I wasn't a fan of. I don't mind suspending my disbelief in a romance, but here the humor at times went too far for me.

I had a good time with the romance too, even though sometimes I found it hard to follow how Olivia was feeling, what was an act and what was her being sincere. I also found it refreshing to see two non-white protagonists in a hockey romance: Olivia is indiginous and Brody is Korean from his mother's side, though he at least doesn't have much connection to his mother's culture.

Overall this was fun and I had a great time, though the humor sometimes went too absurd for my personal liking.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I want to thank HarperCollins, NetGalley, and Lexi LaFleur Brown for this ALC of Evening the Score. The book is set to publish later this month!

I had a bit of an up and down reading experience with this one. While I appreciated the characters and their own individual stories and arcs, some aspects felt forced and little too cheesy. There were some moments where I was cringing… also, while I generally enjoy how Lexi is able to make hockey romance as real life accurate as possible, some of the hockey talk was just too shoved in. Dialogue about the sport felt un-natural at times. Some of their personalities were also a little forced it seemed to me.

Overall I did enjoy the reading experience and was entertained throughout. It took me a little while to warm up to Brody as a character, but I got there eventually. I enjoyed Olivia the whole time. I think overall this is better than her debut, so if you are willing to give her another chance it’s worth the chance. It’s quick and cute.

3.5 ⭐️

[Rosi Colmenares · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of:
Hockey romance
Fake dating
Bookish hero
Revenge plot
Secret identity
Spicy romance

I love a good revenge plot and this book definitely delivered on that aspect. Olivia’s anger and grief over her father’s career-ending injury felt very real, and I liked that the story didn’t shy away from showing how deeply that loss still affects her years later.

The banter between Olivia and Brody was really fun and the humor honestly carried a lot of the book for me. Some lines were a little cringe, but not enough to take me out of the story. If anything, this felt more comedic than romantic at times.

Brody was such a green flag MMC, even if he was a little too trusting sometimes. I really loved seeing him reconnect with his mom and deal with the pressure of coming from a famous hockey family.

I will say the romance lost a bit of steam toward the end and I wanted slightly more chemistry between them emotionally, but overall I still had a really fun time reading this.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I had to opportunity to arc read her debut novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This one however, in my personal opinion is better than that one. It was simply such an easy read and I had such a great time with it. Our two main characters started out in a relationship for convenience, which is always an interesting choice. This book had pretty minimal spice which I definitely prefer to other stuff. I can’t fully explain why I enjoyed this book so much, I just simply did. I binged it on my snow day and it was worth it! As always a huge thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc!!!

[Jordan Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harper Audio and NetGalley for this advanced copy of Evening the Score.

Let me start by saying, I love Lexi Lafleur Brown. I follow her on TikTok and have watched her step into becoming an author. Her real world experience in the NHL is so obvious in her writing, and really helps build the scene.

I read her debut novel as well, and I think this was quite the improvement. Olivia’s character was deeper and had clear motivation. I also loved Brody’s growth.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars. A great follow up book. I can’t wait to read more of her work!

[Kate Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very cute, but I felt the pacing was a bit off for the second half. It felt like the conflict lasted FOREVER, after the first half of the book breezed. I would have maybe liked to spend more time in world building and exposition rather than spending so much time in Olivia’s head in the second half.

[jay]

pre read:
I GOT A HOCKEY ARC

A huge thank you to netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Lexi LaFleur Brown for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Kelsey Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a good enemy to lovers with Indigenous and Korean representation.

[Emily Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lexi LaFleur Brown’s Evening the Score is a fantastic sophomore outing that shows incredible growth in both writing and depth. While the plot occasionally leans into the ridiculous side of fiction, it does so in a consistently fun, lighthearted, and engaging way.

The diversity in this book is one of its strongest assets. Having an Indigenous Anishinaabe lead in Olivia Hinckley and a Korean-American lead in Brody Parker felt incredibly intentional and well-executed. Their ethnicities aren't just checked boxes; they are woven into the fabric of the characters' lives, especially Olivia's. One of the absolute highlights of the book was Olivia’s visit with her grandmother. It was such a grounded, beautiful scene that is relatable no matter your own background.

Tandem reading with the audiobook added a great layer to the experience. This was my first time listening to J. Hunter Ackerman, and he did a wonderful job capturing Brody’s "sweet golden retriever" personality. Julie Lumsden was equally impressive with Olivia; while I can't personally attest to the linguistic accuracy, she brought a deep emotional resonance to the Anishinaabe cultural elements. The scenes between Olivia and her grandmother were particularly compelling and emotionally charged in the audio version.

Olivia is a standout protagonist. Behind her bravado, she carries years of unresolved grief and pain stemming from her father’s illness and death, which led her to walk away from hockey. Her journey is about so much more than romance; it’s a deeply real process of rediscovering herself and learning to love the sport again without it being tied to anger. Seeing her untangle her passion for hockey from the trauma of her past added a level of emotional depth that I wasn't expecting.

As a former WAG and current player herself, Lexi brings a level of authenticity to the setting that is hard to find. She seamlessly integrates critiques of the NHL’s treatment of players and the inner workings of a professional team. The detail in the hockey scenes and the interactions with staff were spot-on, making it easy for even casual fans to understand the stakes.

This is a fun, diverse, and surprisingly emotional sports romance that balances humor with heavy themes of healing.

[Kenna Lowrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

[drew]

drew is very excited for this book. very very very low expectations to be clear, but i will be reading. can't wait. hope we get a cameo from bedrock butch.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I WANTED to like this this one. We need more diverse hockey romance! But instead Lexi caused me to run out of metered data when I was in Canada for a hockey game sending messages to my friends about how awful this book was. It's sooooo bad. Be forewarned that I have literally nothing good to say about it except that it was written by JT Brown's wife and we like him. It might have made me even more asexual somehow?

First of all, the plot is insane. A girl (Olivia) becomes irate because a man is about to be inducted into the hockey hall of fame. This has not even been announced yet. It's not at all clear why this is the moment she chose for her anger to explode, but ok. She does not like this man because he threw a dirty hit on her dad when they were both in the NHL (or its fictional equivalent) and her dad got a concussion and was never the same and died of CTE-related cardiovascular illness. It's actually never clear at all that it was actually a dirty hit and not just a hockey play with a bad outcome, especially because the play was not penalized and player safety took no action. Regardless, that means she now has beef with this man, referees, player safety, and anyone remotely related to them, including this guy's son (Brody), who also now plays in the fictional NHL.

She hates this boy so much by association that she decides to take a job at his arena, even if the only open role is for a mascot. Never mind that she is not qualified to be a mascot and isn't any good at it and doesn't try to improve, her dad was an NHL player and nepotism is alive and well in pro hockey (real). Then she abuses her role as mascot to play a bunch of pranks on the boy to throw him off his game (including a literal sex crime which is not a funny little joke and not something to make light of at all), but unfortunately, they actually help propel him forward. When that doesn't work and she's accidentally run into him a few times now, she decides to start dating him - you know, for revenge against his dad. Because that makes sense.

Secondly, the side plots are insane. Her sister's girlfriend is a taxidermist. Yes, a TAXIDERMIST. On Etsy. For giggles.

Thirdly, marketing this as Indigenous hockey romance made me so sad. There's very little about this story that is Indigenous until the ending. Up until then, we get a bunch of terrible buzzwords thrown around like "She [the sister] even identifies as two-spirit. How am I ever supposed to compete with that? I hardly have one." And "'There's a long history between hair and hockey in Minnesota.' Olivia points across the mall to a group of teenage boys. Dressed in their hockey team warm-ups, they all have matching poorly bleached blond mullets. 'Beliefs wrapped up in superstition and tradition. Even my peoples, the Anishinaabe, believe hair holds memory." And then he is half Korean, but all we really see of that is that he eats at "Korean cafes." There is zero cultural development of any kind in characters, relationships, setting of any kind, until the very end. It all feels very forced.

Fourth, the hockey references are weird and not really accurate? I mean by the standards of the genre, they are great, don't get me wrong. But you would think someone married to an NHL player could get some more of this right. Like the idea that it is more impactful to mess with someone's stick than their skates. Or that the worst way to sabotage someone's stick is to knock down their flex by 10. Like I'm not surprised he liked it better? The idea that mouthguard smell is more nauseating than jock or gloves? She doesn't even understand what public skate is! Apparently there are nets! And sticks! And pucks! But also small children getting in the way! Like ok, she knows what an all star game is and that no one really wants to go. She understands what a breakaway is and how many players are on the ice at a time, which is an improvement for this genre. But for someone who literally plays hockey herself, it's astonishing how little sense she could convey in this.

And then since this is a hockey romance, we have to talk about the sex. This I think is the least appealing sex I have ever read in a hockey romance. Truly. Mind you, there isn't much of it. But what is there is very very cringey. Things like: "Her lip gloss is a treat almost as delicious as her chest pressed against me" and "He looked at me with that same primal glare he gets when he's on a breakaway and I couldn't help myself but let him score." She likes it when he gets demanding, but being "demanding" or "taking control" is literally just him saying things like "take off your shirt" or "get on the bed." The sex is SO vanilla and yet portrayed as deeply kinky. The literal kinkiest thing that happens is that Brody gives her a striptease (which was not good) and then SETS HIS PANTS ON FIRE. And neither of them know how to react like adults at all. BUT THEN they get into the ambulance and he is being treated and he proceeds to compare her to his mother! "And for a moment, before my dad eventually found out whatever the news was, I felt safe to feel the feelings with my mom. I'm starting to feel the same type of safety with Olivia." And then double down on it!! "Her excitement makes me flush. I dip my head, not wanting her to see how much her affection affects me. Not since my mom have I seen someone so genuinely proud of me." It's so Freudian it's actually a little concerning.

And lastly, I cannot not mention the scene in the library. You have a bunch of English majors congregating for a talk (from a pro athlete in a public library...sure), and the boy has some extremely enlightening thoughts for them that they have never considered before! About a children's book! And the questions they are asking are like "Is the Lord of the Rings overrated?" As someone with two degrees in English, this whole scene was insane.

Anyway at the end, she confesses to being an insane person, he loves her anyway, was never bothered by any of it, and they go no contact with toxic dad and live happily ever after. So in short, it has all of the problems with Shoot Your Shot and many more of its own. But if you like hockey romances, you probably don't care about most of these things anyway?

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Evening the Score is probably one of the FUNNIEST book's I've read this year. This book had me laughing out loud in nearly every single chapter! Of course, some parts are a bit outrageous, like Brody accidently hitting Olivia with his car and then asking her out, BUTTTT it's the kind of humour that you just can’t stop smiling from. It's constant, sharp, and woven so seamlessly into the story with so many perfectly timed chaotic moments, especially through Olivia’s sabotage attempts. It gives such strong rom-com energy and I absolutely LOVED IT!

The premise alone hooked me immediately. Olivia Hinckley is out for revenge after a dirty hit ended her father’s NHL career, and now the man responsible is about to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame—while his son, Brody Parker, joins her dad’s former team, the Minnesota Freeze. So, what does she do? She infiltrates the organization as the team's mascot, Chilly, and get close enough to Brody to destroy the Parker legacy from the inside. It’s so UNHINGED, creative, and makes for such an entertaining setup—especially when fake dating gets thrown into the mix and things start getting complicated...because how can she still try to destroy someone she's falling in love with?!

Olivia was such a standout FMC for me. She’s bold, messy, and absolutely committed to her revenge plan, but underneath all of that is someone carrying years of grief and unresolved pain. I really appreciated how her journey wasn’t just about romance, it was also about figuring out who she is outside of that anger and learning how to hold onto her love for hockey (and her dad) without letting it be tied to hurt. Her character felt layered and real, and her growth throughout the story added so much depth.

And I absolutely LOVED Brody! He’s this genuinely kind, soft-hearted guy who seems perfect on the outside, but in reality, he's secretly struggling with his own issues. Brody’s been stuck under the weight of his father’s reputation and extremely TOXIC expectations his entire life, and his struggles felt SO real. I couldn't help but feel bad for him when he got the brunt of Olivia's sabotage attempts. But watching him try to carve out his own identity and try to be his own person outside of his father’s shadow, while also opening up and letting Olivia in, was so satisfying to read. He brings such warmth to the story, and the emotional payoff of his vulnerability really makes the romance land, even if he was VERY gullible at times, but I'll let that slide because as I said before, he's such a softie.

Now the chemistry between Olivia and Brody was one of my favourite parts. The banter is sharp and playful, the tension builds perfectly. And I loved the slow shift from fake dating to very real feelings when their emotional walls started to come down. There’s also this great balance between humour and emotion—one minute you’re laughing, and the next you’re hit with something genuinely heartfelt.

I also really appreciated how the book weaves in meaningful representation, with Olivia being Indigenous and Brody being half Korean, and how those identities are naturally integrated into their characters and experiences, without ever feeling forced. It adds a kind of richness to the story.

What really made this book stand out to me, though, is how well it balances everything. It’s light, funny, chaotic and wildly entertaining, but it also explores heavier themes like grief, family pressure, identity, and healing in a way that feels genuine. That combination made it feel like more than just a typical sports romance. It had heart and depth all while keeping me completely hooked. Also, after doing some research on Lexi LaFleur Brown, I realized she has such a unique voice and perspective to write books in the hockey-romcom genre because she is a former WAG, hockey player, and genuine lover of the sport. She seamlessly integrates critiques on the NHL's treatment of players so well and in a way that is easily understandable for readers who may not know much about hockey or even the inner workings of the league. This was my first read from Lexi LaFleur Brown, I am definitely curious to pick up more of her work in the future after reading this book!

If you’re into hockey romances with a unique twist, chaotic revenge plots, fake dating, incredible banter, and witty characters, this is 100% worth picking up. Easily a 5-star read for me. Funny, heartfelt, a little unhinged, but absolutely entertaining! I had such a good time reading this.

HOWEVER, the whole taxidermy situation with Olivia's sister's girlfriend weirded me out and gave me the creeps.

Thanks to Lexi LaFleur Brown, NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced reader copy!

This is a 2.5 rounded up to 3.

Dr. Brown, I will always give your books a chance. I think you offer great insight into the world of pro hockey as both a hockey player yourself and a wag. Your dedication to women's hockey especially is trailblazing.

All of that being said, I did not enjoy this.

There is a fantastic bare bones story here - I love a good enemies to lovers, even when it's one sided. There's so much care put into Olivia and her story, and for Minnesota itself. And I know that grief makes us act irrationally and against what our friends and family warn us about, so in some ways Olivia was even relatable to a 5'2" white girl from New England. Quinn was an absolute delight as were most of the Chilly shenanigans. Loved Tori, didn't love Ivy, but I certainly know lesbians just like her and dislike them in real life so I don't feel taken out about that.

However, I have three major qualms, and I'll start with the one that bothers me the least:

Brody felt like an afterthought compared to the work put into Olivia. We're in his head for quite a bit of the book, but the first time we find out he's half-Korean is in chapter 12. After that, being Korean is integrated much more into his life, but it felt inorganic compared to how Olivia's Indigenous heritage was integrated in her story. There was also a small issue I had with it that is probably just a connection I made and not intentional, but it leads me to my next issue.

There was a lot of real world stuff included that felt like they were supposed to be a wink to the readers in some cases and completely unaware in others. There are three specific instances of this that took me out of the story. One, the dentist Dr. Conrad and Brody's teammate Belly (which loops back to what I said above - if that reference to The Summer I Turned Pretty didn't exist I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it, but instead it felt like Brody was Belly's heritage with Conrad's relationship with his dad and left Brody feeling less developed). Two, using real people names, such as Ovi and Dave Robertson (Dave Roberts was the long time manager of the LA Dodgers), was tough for me especially with Ovi, because I feel like you can't have other teams and players setting specific records if Ovi still exists (does Crosby still exist in this universe?).

Finally, three, an easily googleable fact - in a world where all the team names are changed, using the Minnesota Whitecaps for the PWHL team was almost insulting. The Minnesota Whitecaps were a real women's hockey team active in the prior professional women-and-trans hockey league, the PHF (or NWHL, depending on when you were a fan), from 2015 to its dissolution in 2023 by the PWHL. Even before then, the Minnesota Whitecaps were an active women's hockey team from 2004. Maybe I'm being overly critical, but Dr. Brown's husband played in Minnesota during the NWHL era and the Whitecaps were an official affiliate team. I think also because she is such a champion for women's sports it hit a little more.

Honestly, this is connected to my last issue with Evening the Score: Dr. Brown assumes her readers' hockey IQs are zero. I assume many of her readers are hockey fans aside from hockey romance and that's why we all continue to read her books and be interested in her perspective. Which is why, again, I felt frustrated with how some of the actual sport stuff was overexplained or dumbed down. Do I maybe know more about hockey than the average romance reader? Probably. I've grown up around hockey and sports themselves my whole life, so it may feel more heavy handed to me. Maybe people who don't know hockey found it helpful. I just think it's better to treat your readers like they know more than they do rather than less.

It's hard, because I like Dr. Brown as a person so much, and it makes me want to 100% love her writing. Like I said, I will always pick something up if it's written by her. This one was just really tough for me.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars


this book was unlike any other i’ve read before. from the witty writing, to the inclusion of indigenous culture in a HOCKEY ROMANCE, to the FMC being the team’s mascot, this book was something special.

to start out, the dedication was just perfect. i’ll let you read it for yourself, but just know that it’s iconic.

Olivia Hinckley’s dad died from CTE, a condition caused by too many concussions/traumas to the head, causing degenerative symptoms. The concussion that ended her father’s career was delivered by Erik Parker. Now that Erik’s son, Brody, has signed with the Minnesota Freeze, Olivia’s dad’s team, she decides it’s time for her to enact her revenge and take down the Parker legacy once and for all. She gets a job as the team’s mascot, Chilly, and is now close enough to learn Brody’s secrets. She tries to sabotage him, but nothing seems to work, with all her attempts just improving his play. What she didn’t expect was to fall for Brody in the process, discovering that he’s nothing like his douchebag father.

Brody is gullible to a fault. If i told him “gullible” is on the ceiling, he would look up. if i told him the sky was green, he’d say “okay!” while the man is super endearing and kind, his naivety was overwhelming. Olivia told Brody her last name was “O’Chairlock.” AND HE BELIEVED IT. when a fan came up to Olivia, telling her that he’s a huge fan of her dad’s, Brody doesn’t bat an eye. also, for a man with so much daddy issues, he was surprising quick to trust others. his dad is President of Doucheville, and with Brody’s gullibility, he took every negative comment his dad spewed at him to heart. it was honestly a little pathetic. i found myself pitying a rich, famous nepo baby.

Olivia is vengeful to the point where she was willing to put her career as a freelance data analyst aside in order to mess with the Parkers. babe, where’s the feminism in that? i know she feels bad that her dad never got to live up to his full potential, but she never even saw him play, which i guess is the whole point? and then she just went from hating him one minute and wanting to set his life on fire to being in love with him the next. her character didn’t feel very consistent.

the author didn’t really show us the progression of their relationship. she more so told us where they were at, rather than showing how it developed. one minute they’re friendly, then they’re on a date (but olivia still hates him), and then suddenly olivia just doesn’t hate him anymore, and then she LOVES him. one minute she hates his guts and assumes he’s just like his dad and then a minute later, she wants to save him from his dad. i didn’t feel any of what caused that change to happen. they went on a couple dates and suddenly they’re dating. and, can i mention the inaccuracy in that? when does a professional hockey player have the time to take someone out on dates? they literally get no breaks like ever. the romance felt like it was being spoon fed to me.

however, i found the writing style to be so witty. i would literally catch myself laughing out loud at times. yes, there were many pop culture references that are relevant today that will probably be considered cringey to anyone reading this book a year from now, but if you appreciate it for the time capsule of pop culture that it is, you’ll enjoy yourself

a special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mathilda Otteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexi LaFleur Brown does it again. In this insanely original plot for a romcom, she will turn you from giggling and kicking your feet to howling with laughter in no time. This piece of work does it all - it’s sexy and fun, it’s adventurous and touching. Above all, her use of hockey/pro-hockey knowledge between the lines makes the entire story come to life off the pages.

Olivia Hinckley is a girl with a grudge not to be crossed. After witnessing her father being forced to walk away from the game he loves after a not only career-ending but life-altering injury, at the top of her revenge list is none other than Erik Parker, the man who ended her father’s career. So when his son, Brody Parker, hockey’s golden boy, is signed to her hometown and her father’s old team. She hatches a plan to finally her lick back. Olivia finds herself in the unlikely position as the Minnesota Freeze’s new mascot. Bound by contractual obligations, she’s required to keep her identity a secret whilst pushing her plan forward to mess with his game by faking a relationship with him. The problem? The more she finds out about her nemesis, the more fiercely she hates his father and the more confused she becomes about her plan - because falling for him certainly wasn’t part of it.

Brody Parker wants to make a name for himself. He’s spent his entire career suffocating under his father’s name and expectations, desperately wanting out. His father’s out to claim his rightful spot in the hall of fame and will stop at nothing to make sure Brody falls in line. What the public doesn’t know is how brutal Brody really has it. Where people see him as a champion and a hero to them, Brody sees Erik Parker as his first bully. He finds solace in a witty and fun-loving brunette, Olivia. The more time he finds himself spending with her, the more he opens up about himself and the truth about his family dynamics. Brody wants the game, the girl, and his freedom - can he really have it all?

This book took me for a ride. It was truly the perfect balance of romance and comedy. The characters’ quirks and moments felt SO true to their personalities and watching it all unfold piece by piece was the ultimate journey. Even amongst all the parts of the book that is shiny and fun, you feel the depth of the more challenging emotions from both main characters. Olivia, despite being blinded by revenge, is deep in her grief and you get to see how she works through it in her conversations with Brody and their relationship, as well as with the people in her life. The way that she finds her way and the missing pieces of herself by the end was so heartwarming. On the flip side, you have Brody. His identity has been written for him since the day he was born, and he struggles with being able to rewrite it on his own. He is struggling under his father’s expectations and distant from his mother, but being with Olivia is the first time in his adult life he feels seen as a person himself. She breathes confidence into him, that he’s capable of success despite his nepotism. What you see from his end is incredible growth and a man who finds his footing in the end. Both main characters are in search of this sense of self and through the romance and the laughter and the spice, they find it with each other. It’s a truly beautiful and fun story. I cannot wait to see what else she brings to the table.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!

[Gea Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If get him back! by Olivia Rodrigo was a romcom

Lexi LaFleur Brown has such a unique voice to write these hockey romcom as a hockey player herself as a former wag but more importantly as a hockey lover and in this book is noticeable on her critiques of the league treatment of players and in her jokes about head lice on nhl players iykyk, and i thinking she integrates them in her stories impeccably in a way that is understandable and enjoyable to both fans or not of the sport.

Now this book was hilarious fun and romantic, with a very important touch of grief, Olivia’s character development thru the lens of her grief for her dad and even for hockey and her having to conciliate that with the love and joy that Brody brings to her life, while a the same time finding a place to put all her love for hockey in her Chilly gig was fun different and refreshing to read

On the other side we have Brody’s own struggles with his family and trying to escape his dad’s shadows and toxicity his character development was also great through the book and especially lovely to see from his own point of view.

And honestly I loved the fact that she’s Native American and he’s half Korean and how both those very important facts of their stories were integrated into their stories.

I genuinely can’t wait to read more of what Lexi has in store for us in the future because if her debut book was an indication of her talent and this one is just the proof of it.

Don't get mad—get even.

A grudge hates to see Olivia Hinckley coming. Years ago, a dirty hit ended her late father’s NHL career with the Minnesota Freeze. It was never fair that Erik Parker walked away with little more than a penalty, but it’s worse that her father's rival is now up for Hall of Fame induction. On top of that, Erik's son—hockey’s golden boy, Brody—just signed on to play for the Freeze. Determined to dismantle the Parker legacy, Olivia enacts a revenge plot that has her donning the Freeze’s mascot costume to gain intel on the Parkers. And she can’t help but mess with Brody’s gameplay—and his heart for good measure. After all, what’s a little fake dating between enemies?

Brody Parker only ever wanted to play hockey for fun, but the pressure of being part of hockey’s “First Family” has him dodging nepotism allegations along with high sticks. Erik might act like Father of the Year when the cameras are on, but behind closed doors, Brody struggles with his father’s impossible expectations. Preserving Erik’s image is a full-time job, but lucky for Brody, his new connection with Olivia is a welcome (spicy) distraction.

When Brody finally opens up to Olivia, she never expected she’d pity a Parker for anything. Suddenly, she wants to protect her once-enemy. The romantic feelings she faked are now unexpectedly real, but after leading Brody on for so long, can she keep the lies and the truth straight before she accidentally blows up his whole life?

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🐱Team Mascot FMC
🥅Hockey player MMC
❤️‍🔥Revenge to Lovers
🤫Secret Sabotage
✨Native American Rep

Evening the Score will be out May 26

Thanks to Lexi LaFleur Brown, Netgalley and Harper Collins for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review
⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

[Mood Reader Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story 4.5/5
Spice 3/5
Audiobook Narration 3.5/5

Tropes: Revenge, Hate to Love, Professional Hockey, Secret Identity, His Dad Sucks (a total Richard), First Nations Representation, LGBTQ2S+ Representation, Greif/Healing, Sports Mascot Culture, Grand Gesture

This book made me so happy! Even though it is set in Minnesota, it feels very Canadian to me, and I loved that! I read a lot of hockey romance and books by Lexi LaFleur Brown just hit different, the way she weaves all of her NHL insider information into her books set them apart from the rest.
I loved the FMC in this book, she is deeply flawed, but she owns it. She did not cope well with the loss of her father and when she sees an opportunity to sabotage the player who ended his hockey career with a dirty hit, she is laser focused on revenge. Her plan is to use his son, who was just traded to the Minnesota Freeze to destroy his reputation and keep him from being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. I can relate to petty, and I was fully in support of the FMCs plotting. Her Dad's best friend works for the team and uses her connection to get a job that will get her close to her target. She isn't thrilled that her way in is as a temporary replacement for the team mascot.
The MMC was offered an amazing deal to play for the Florida team his dad played on, but he chose to go to Minnesota in hopes of getting as far away from his dad as possible. He is so loveable, total book boyfriend material and he is immediately into the FMC, completely unaware of the history between their dads. Not only is he a gorgeous professional hockey player, but he is sweet and he loves to read, what's not to love? Most importantly, he is nothing like his dad on and off the ice.
There are so many great supporting characters, my favorites are the FMC's older sister and her girlfriend (who has a very niche taxidermy side hustle). The goalies for the MMC's team are equally precious and ridiculous, complete idiots, but so loveable. Though the team's mascot handler might be the most ridiculous and she takes her job VERY seriously!
The plot was unpredictable in the best way, it was funny, silly, spicy, heartfelt, and emotional. It is jam packed with professional hockey lore, there is women's hockey representation, and the FMC's Anishinaabe heritage is artfully woven into the story. Women's hockey and First Nations culture are often absent from hockey romance, so I love that they are included in this story.
There are some amazing reveals, and beautiful grand gestures that I would love to talk about because they were so good (but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone).
I really enjoyed Shoot Your Shot (a very underrated hockey romance), and Evening the Score is even better! I cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next. If your interests include both hockey and romance books, this is a must read!
The audiobook is dual narration, which is not for everyone, but I didn't mind it for the most part. I really enjoyed Julie Lumsden's performance of the female POV chapters. Unfortunately, the male narrator did the falsetto voice for some of female characters' dialogue and it was not great. The audiobook may not be for everyone, but the story is still worth reading.

[Bex · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC read.

Sorry to say, but this is probably my LEAST favorite hockey romance book I have ever read. I was going to DNF it, but I wanted to stick it out and give it a chance. I did approve of how hockey forward the story was, I did like how much knowledge the author seems to have for the sport, but that's probably as far as my approval for this book went.

From the very beginning when we find out Olivia's motivation for her revenge plan, I was out. I am so sorry but please be so for real!!!!! You are going to hold a grudge against a family for something that happened BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Spoiler alert.......


Befriending the son of the man who "ruined" your dad's career to enact your revenge plan, is shortsighted, but not all together a bad plan, get to the son to get to the father, I can understand that plan. HOWEVER the whole reason is a moot point, your father has already died, and he could have tried more to settle the issues between the adults at the time. But you decided that when he died you were going to engage in some revenge story and bring your fathers "perpetrator" down. You could have gone to the media to bring up the old subject to ruin his chances at the hall of fame, but instead you brought his son into the mix, which may I say is really immature; and flawed logic. Yes his son is also really good at playing hockey, but just as you weren't born when the events happened, he wasn't born either! What is the saying "the son takes on the sins of the father"? That's just stupid. You might have seen the news on what happened between fathers, and may have heard your fathers version of events, but that does not mean that your nemesis is Brody... You don't know Brody! And very clearly Brody was not like his father. If she could have pulled her head out the sand for a single minute, she would have seen by the very first date, that he was different than the persona that he felt he had to put out!

Also why did this book feel like one giant woke book? It's one thing to have characters of different backgrounds and orientations, its another to shove it down the readers throats...Like I got it the FMC's sister was a lesbian in a relationship, you didn't have to make a thousand gay jokes, or commentary about it. Another thing, at one point the FMC is in a night club bar, and a sleazy man approaches her, she doesn't reciprocate so the MMC steps in, and all of a sudden the dumb character makes a racist slur towards the MMC, so the FMC attacks him and punches him to the ground. Like what?!?!?! First of all, why wouldn't you just tell the security staff and ask them to take the man out (like the MMC said he was going to do)? And why jump to violence immediately anyways? That is telling the reader that if one stupid racist comment is made, you should immediately respond with violence...... That is not an appropriate response, it is an overreaction to the situation, escalating into something it shouldn't.

I honestly could probably go on, but I'd rather keep it to that. Overall this was probably even less than 1 star for me.....

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

TLDR; if you didn't like Shoot Your Shot but are optimistic and like having fun, I think this is worth checking out. Not perfect, but much improved and much more enjoyable.

I've been a fan and follower of Lexi for a long time and was also able to read her first book, Shoot Your Shot, prior to release. I was super excited and in the end suuuper disappointed with the quality. I didn't actually think I'd get approved for this one, but I went in hoping for the best and wanting it to be better.

And reader...it was!!

This was a really fun book with a very silly premise that worked, I think, because it knew how silly it was. Brody was a great leading man, and I enjoyed Olivia as well.

That said, it wasn't perfect. I think a lot of the prose is still pretty underbaked, and some of the silliness was simply too silly. This was an issue in Shoot Your Shot as well, especially used as a device to prevent the characters from having sex. I don't think hijinks is the best tool for creating tension--it didn't work then, and it didn't work now.

I said above that I really liked Brody, and I did. He was fascinating. However, I feel like Olivia's story would have benefited from being told from a single POV. Some of her choices during Brody's chapters felt out of place and confusing because when we last left her head, that's not where she was. It's weird to have her changing her mind off-page. This is a sticky wicket because again, Brody is great--one of my favorite hockey romance MMCs I've read--but from a storytelling perspective, I don't think he was right for Olivia's story, if that makes sense. I wish Brody had been saved for another book and that this one had been single POV. But that is the kind of thing that I think comes more naturally the more you write and the more you think about craft rather than just what audiences will buy, which is hopefully what Lafleur Brown is doing.

I also think she needs to let go of the idea that every book is an entire season, because it just drags things out and makes stuff take way longer than it reasonably would IRL. I have a hard time believing that Olivia would keep her secret for nine whole months, especially when they caught feelings so fast. At that point, she'd been lying for so long that Brody is lowkey crazy for taking her back. Smoosh this into a few months, have the climax happen around the all-star game (since that was such a big deal), and tighten the timeline.

In conclusion: this book was really massively improved for Shoot Your Shot, but it's not great...yet. I'm optimistic.