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, Hockey Romance, Hockey, Sports Romance, Sports

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

[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.

[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.

[Yesenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a cute hockey romance! If you need a good revenge, healing journey, finding your person, and a little competitiveness story, this is for you. The story is about Olivia and Brody. Two hockey legend adults who are just trying to go through life. Each one has their own trauma and crap they’re going through. One held on by their past and one looking for their place. This story is so freaking cute, you honestly can’t help but fall in love with not only the characters but the culture and love. Plus the story is literally written by a former WAG, home girl knows her hockey. It’s cutesy, bantery, funny, and most of all one of finding your person.

Olivia is just a hot mess. She’s in such a limbo state of mind that and in life. So when opportunities arise she literally can’t help herself. She’s a strong willed girl with a crazy mind set….. but I love it 😆. You can’t help but kick your feet at the recklessness that’s to come but you keep cheering her on. That’s until she figures out her feelings and we just have to watch the complete explosion that she’s bringing upon herself. We must all learn one way or another 🤷‍♀️. She will have you laughing the whole book 🖤.

Brody 🖤. Can I take one order of this hockey man please. All you want to do is protect him at all costs. He’s more than capable, but you can’t help but want to hold his hand the whole way through. He’s a strong, competitive, funny, and caring hockey player. But he’s got a past and present that haunts him. I love his journey in this book. You see him start to grow his back bone and claim his life. I loved it 🖤. Plus his tendency to pass out made me laugh. And please!!!!! Can we all address his video game loss 🤤.


I got this as an arc from NetGalley and 1000% recommend to anyone!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid, engaging read that I genuinely enjoyed. The writing style flowed well and kept me invested in the story, making it easy to settle in and keep turning the pages. Overall, it’s a well-written book with a strong emotional core.

While I did find myself wishing the female protagonist had been more upfront about her intentions, I also understand that doing so would have removed much of the conflict that drives the story. Even so, her choices sometimes caused frustration, especially when honesty might have spared unnecessary hurt.

That said, the emotional impact of the book really worked for me, particularly when it came to the male main character. I felt for him throughout the story, and his perspective added depth and heart to the narrative. His struggles and emotional journey were handled in a way that made them feel real and relatable.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and well-executed story with good writing, strong emotions, and compelling characters. A 4 out of 5 stars read for me.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, charming and cute story that also explored grief, anger, toxic parents and cultural identity. There were so many witty observations that had me cackling. As much as Olivia's revenge plan (and taking her time to confess) was frustrating, I understood why she went that way and I appreciate her journey to reconciling her father's death. Erik was a sweetheart, desperate to climb out of his controlling father's shadow and also estranged from his mum. The way their relationship developed felt natural, that I never saw any real faking it because they behaved like a real couple from the get go. I also really liked how the author also layered in Olivia's Indigenousness (though I wish that came a bit earlier in the story, at the very least more crumbs dropped) and Erik being half-Korean and the pressures of being a POC hockey player in a very white sport.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love sports romance when the heroine is also an athlete. There's something far more interesting when you can have two athletes in a relationship - even if one isn't a professional, there's an appreciation and understanding for the same passion. This book didn't disappoint. I love that Olivia was a talented player in her own right and the epilogue was a perfect full circle for her.

[ena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! As a huge fan of hockey, the author, Lexi, does a great job depicting the sport into the story in an accurate way. Fun, quick read to start off the new year!

This book gave me some "John Tucker Must Die" vibes and I loved that a lot. The revenge plot Olivia comes up with, with her scheming behind Brody's back in order to avenge her father was exactly what I was looking for in a book. It felt very unique.

Honestly, I did kind of hope for more of the fun, chaotic moments while Olivia was inside of the mascot uniform than outside of it. Olivia's relationship with Brody certainly felt natural but also a bit rushed at times. For me, there were some details that could have been pivotal moments that I wish had been expanded on in a few POV switches. Overall, I really did love the plot and the tropes within the story! It's definitely worth picking up and would recommend it to others if they're into sport romances.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia is a former college hockey player with an NHL dad, and Brody is a current NHL player with an even more famous hockey father, the one responsible for ending Olivia’s dad’s career. Complicated, to say the least. When Brody is traded to the Freeze, Olivia takes a job with the team, initially hoping to undermine Brody and his well-known hockey family. As expected, things are not quite what they seem, and Olivia and Brody begin to grow closer.

I appreciated many aspects of this story. Olivia being Indigenous adds important representation, and Brody’s struggle under the weight of his father’s reputation and abuse is handled with care. The inclusion of concussion-related issues in professional sports is also a thoughtful and relevant thread that adds dimension to the romance. At times, I wished the character development had been given more room to unfold. Some shifts in motivation felt a bit quick, and certain conflicts could have benefited from deeper exploration. With more depth, the novel’s themes might have had even more impact.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun hockey book! The atmosphere was pure comedy. I loved every second on it. The second time the main characters meet each other has Brody accidentally running Olivia over with his car. If that doesn’t set the vibes for this book I don’t know what does.

The concept of Olivia being a mascot was so entertaining, we really need more authors writing about mascots! Brody is a goofy, sweet, and just a little bit gullible. It feels so refreshing having an mmc that feels different than the standard mmc we usually get in books. He’s a character you immediately love. The side characters are great too. I hope we get a book for Quinn! I loved her character so much.

Overall this was a funny, chaotic, hockey book and I really hope we get some more! Thank you so much to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for this free review copy in exhange for an honest review!!

I wanted to love it so much, but it sadly wasn’t for me! I see most people loved it so I’m sure it will find its perfect audience!

What I will say is that this author definitely knows her hockey! It is very accurate and shows her knowledge.

What didn’t work for me were the characters. They felt flat and were a bit all over the place. There was a lot of showing and not telling and quite a bit of repetitiveness. The dialogues also felt unnatural and I found it a bit cringe. The writing did not flow as much as I would have liked and I couldn’t get immersed in the story.

It was cute, but their romance needed more development.

[Cassandra C · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there’s one thing I know I’m going to get from Lexi, it’s more accurate hockey terms & experience when it comes to this genre of sports romance!

I love that she entangles real terms, strategies, and lingo into her books! So she fully delivered a lot more of that in her second book.

This follow up to her debut was fun and had similar-style humor and banter to the first, which I really liked. I think why I wanted more of was just development and detail. It felt like a lot of surface level descriptions and quick situations & decision making (if that makes sense? Almost just like insta-plot? insta-conflict?)

I look forward to continue to watch Lexi’s writing evolve!!

[Book Bits With Britt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was able to get an arc of this book. I really wanted to like this book. The idea sounded great but I felt like it missed the mark. I started to get into it and then there was spice that was thrown in there that didn't feel like it was needed/went well with where FMC and MMC were in their relationship. I didn't like how the FMC didn't really grow a ton during the whole book. Even once she realized that the MMC wasn't anything like his dad right away she still tried to sabotage him during most of the story. The last few chapters felt very rushed. There were a few different times that I thought the book was redeeming itself and then it just fell short.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

This was an easy, fast read with great chemistry. Their banter and inner dialogues actually made me laugh, and the story’s exploration of grief and loss hit me in a way that really resonated. That being said some elements felt underdeveloped. Olivia being Aboriginal felt more mentioned than meaningfully, and the “fake dating” didn’t quite land for me. Does it count if only one person knows it’s fake? Still, the romance was enjoyable, making this a solid pick if you’re in the mood for a quick hockey romance.

[Jodi Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this fun hockey romance. At first this seemed like the same as the million other hockey romances that had been written but there were many plot points that’s made it stand out. I also appreciated that it wasn’t too spicy and it didn’t feel like a jumping off point for a million book serious. This really seemed like a one and done. Not that I don’t enjoy the series but sometimes they can get overwhelming. This was really very fun.

[E (manga_runner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins I had the opportunity to read.
-fake dating
- sports romance
- Olivia wanting revenge for her father's early hockey retirement thanks to ML dad
-Brody trying to escape father's shadow and hockey basically his whole life

Olivia is hung up on revenge for her father and it intensifies when Erik Parker is potentially being inducted to the Hall of Fame. Then she schemes to gain intel on the Parker family after finding out that a certain individual is joining the Minnesota Freeze Hockey team. Even if it means dressing as a mascot for a season, trying to sabotage, and going to lengths to get his attention. However, what she doesn't know is that Brody has his own family matters he is trying to get away from.

Loved the banter between them, his attempts at flirting, and there were a few funny moments. One of which does involve accidentally getting set on fire. Overall, it wrapped up well and everything was addressed by the end.

[TD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

I really enjoyed reading this book and when I got a third of the way in, I basically binged the rest of the book in one sitting. I LOVE love and romance and this definitely hit the spot and was what I was looking for. Also, the fact that this is a hockey romance is 10/10. I will definitely be picking up more books from the author.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun ride. I enjoyed the author’s previous book. I went in blind and had a great time. This book had me grinning, giggling, but still had plenty of heat and heart. I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Olivia is completely feral in the most fun way. It had some of the same vibes as John Tucker Must Die, but with so much more heart and soul.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

[Danelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this, but it feels like the FMC just woke up one day and decided she was just going to change her mind and fall in love after all her energy spent on her hater arc. It definitely needed more character/romance development.

[Gretal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than Shoot Your Shot! I had a pretty great time reading this, and Olivia and Brody were super cute and easy to root for. And I have to mention how much I love that the Minnesota PWHL team in this is the Minnesota Whitecaps, as it should be.

[Meccalynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
A lot of really fun moments in this one.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an early access to this book.