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Evening the Score
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
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
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2026
About the author
Lexi LaFleur Brown
2 books554 followersLexi 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 551 reviews
June 5, 2026
excellent portrayal of an angry and slightly brash fmc that doesn’t come across as aggressive or over the top. that, paired with a sensitive mmc and a lot of mischief, made this book hilarious and heartwarming imo.
olivia has a plan to get revenge on a family that she believes ruined her family. from the jump you know this cannot end well and yet i was giddy watching it unfold. olivia and brody are perfect for each other and the situations they end up in had me giggling out loud.
i do wish we got a little more character development from olivia and sooner. brody’s storyline was wonderful (and he wasn’t even a problem), but i would’ve liked to see olivia work out her issues along the way as well.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
olivia has a plan to get revenge on a family that she believes ruined her family. from the jump you know this cannot end well and yet i was giddy watching it unfold. olivia and brody are perfect for each other and the situations they end up in had me giggling out loud.
i do wish we got a little more character development from olivia and sooner. brody’s storyline was wonderful (and he wasn’t even a problem), but i would’ve liked to see olivia work out her issues along the way as well.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
May 31, 2026
this was such a fun hockey romance. fake dating, enemies to lovers, secret identities, family drama… it honestly had a little bit of everything, and i flew through it. i especially loved watching olivia and brody go from constantly butting heads to actually understanding each other. their chemistry was great, and brody was easy to root for once you got to know what he was dealing with behind the scenes.
i also really liked that both characters had their own baggage and motivations that felt believable. olivia’s revenge plan definitely brought the drama, but i enjoyed seeing her wrestle with the consequences once things started getting real.
my biggest issue was the ending. after spending so much time building up the conflict and relationships, everything wrapped up a little too quickly for me. i wanted more time with the fallout and resolution because it felt rushed compared to the rest of the story.
overall, this was an entertaining and addictive read with plenty of laughs, tension, and swoony moments. i just wish the ending had been given a little more room to breathe
thank you netgalley for the arc!
i also really liked that both characters had their own baggage and motivations that felt believable. olivia’s revenge plan definitely brought the drama, but i enjoyed seeing her wrestle with the consequences once things started getting real.
my biggest issue was the ending. after spending so much time building up the conflict and relationships, everything wrapped up a little too quickly for me. i wanted more time with the fallout and resolution because it felt rushed compared to the rest of the story.
overall, this was an entertaining and addictive read with plenty of laughs, tension, and swoony moments. i just wish the ending had been given a little more room to breathe
thank you netgalley for the arc!
May 26, 2026
4🌟, 2🌶️
This hockey romance was an absolute blast.
It follows Olivia, who plots a wild revenge scheme against her father's rival, only to find herself totally falling for his son, Brody. While the revenge plan was a bit of a mess and didn't really work out, it added a fun, chaotic energy to the story that made me chuckle through the whole thing.
The chemistry between them was just so sweet and full of banter. I really appreciated how the author took the time to weave in their cultural backgrounds, which gave the characters such a lovely, authentic layer. It was genuinely heartwarming to watch them grow together, especially seeing Brody finally find the courage to step out from his father's shadow.
Even with a little pacing lull in the middle, the story wrapped up in such a lovely, satisfying way. It hit all the right notes for a feel-good read, and I finished it with a big smile on my face.
This was such a fun, memorable ride that left me feeling completely satisfied.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Lexi LaFleur Brown, Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This hockey romance was an absolute blast.
It follows Olivia, who plots a wild revenge scheme against her father's rival, only to find herself totally falling for his son, Brody. While the revenge plan was a bit of a mess and didn't really work out, it added a fun, chaotic energy to the story that made me chuckle through the whole thing.
The chemistry between them was just so sweet and full of banter. I really appreciated how the author took the time to weave in their cultural backgrounds, which gave the characters such a lovely, authentic layer. It was genuinely heartwarming to watch them grow together, especially seeing Brody finally find the courage to step out from his father's shadow.
Even with a little pacing lull in the middle, the story wrapped up in such a lovely, satisfying way. It hit all the right notes for a feel-good read, and I finished it with a big smile on my face.
This was such a fun, memorable ride that left me feeling completely satisfied.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Lexi LaFleur Brown, Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 27, 2026
This book was so fun and entertaining. There was so much chemistry between Brody and Olivia and their banter was hilarious. I was laughing out loud while listening to the audiobook. Brody is honestly the sweetest and I love how different he is from his dad. The whole revenge plot with fake dating but only one of them knows its fake was a fun take on the trope too. I loved the touches of Olivia Indigenous culture that were mentioned throughout the story too. There was a lot of character development and I loved how their relationship changed and grew over the story. Overall this was super enjoyable and a fun audiobook listen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
⭐⭐
I did not like lexi's writing style and honestly had a hard time with this read. I found that instead of the writing flowing it was a bit jagged. I really disliked olivia's character and did not want her to find love. the main redeeming part of the book for me was brody's character development. The way that she wrote their romance made you honestly think that they just kinda hated each other. i did not buy that they were madly in love for a second. i really wanted to like this book, but i just couldn't actually like it.
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.
⭐⭐
I did not like lexi's writing style and honestly had a hard time with this read. I found that instead of the writing flowing it was a bit jagged. I really disliked olivia's character and did not want her to find love. the main redeeming part of the book for me was brody's character development. The way that she wrote their romance made you honestly think that they just kinda hated each other. i did not buy that they were madly in love for a second. i really wanted to like this book, but i just couldn't actually like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2026
I seriously struggled with this one.
I just couldn’t get into the story itself. The whole thing felt forced. Olivia got on my nerves the entire time. I never find myself not rooting for a FMC but unfortunately I just wanted this whole thing to end.
I loved Brody. I wanted more of him and less of everything else. 😭😂
The audio wasn’t bad. I did like the narrators and it was a quick listen.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and harlequin audio for this ALC.
3.5/5⭐️
I just couldn’t get into the story itself. The whole thing felt forced. Olivia got on my nerves the entire time. I never find myself not rooting for a FMC but unfortunately I just wanted this whole thing to end.
I loved Brody. I wanted more of him and less of everything else. 😭😂
The audio wasn’t bad. I did like the narrators and it was a quick listen.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and harlequin audio for this ALC.
3.5/5⭐️
March 29, 2026
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
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
February 26, 2026
★★★.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.
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.
May 24, 2026
Listen, I love a good revenge plot as much as anyone, but I simply couldn’t get behind this.
The book follows Olivia, a woman hellbent on getting revenge for the injury that took her father out of the NHL. An injury that happened before she was born and was caused by a man she’s never met. To get revenge, she decides to ruin the life and career of that man’s son. A son, mind you, who is completely innocent and unaware of the incident.
Olivia is a horrible person. She’s fake and petty and undeserving of Brody’s love. Brody, the innocent victim of her petty abuse, was a decent person who always tried to do the right thing and was always there for Olivia. He was also a victim of his father’s verbal and psychological abuse for his entire life. The man literally had panic attacks whenever his father came around and lived under the constant pressure his father put on him. I genuinely felt bad for this guy. On the one side, Brody has his overbearing and controlling father, and on the other side, he has Olivia, the girl he thinks he’s dating, who is actively plotting his downfall. And even after seeing that Brody is nothing like his father, Olivia continues her plan of petty vengeance, including sabotaging his equipment in a way that would in real life count as sexual assault, but whatever, I guess. In a way, she’s no better than Brody’s dad, willing to ruin someone’s life and career for her own benefit.
Honestly, I am down for petty revenge. But you can’t be vengeful and then sleep with the guy you allegedly hate. On one page, Olivia is so disgusted by the fact that he got her a jersey with his name on it that she literally gags. And a few pages later, in the same chapter, they’re getting it on. It makes Olivia seem incapable of holding her ground. It also makes her seem all the more evil and inconsistent. She’s not only messing with his career, but she’s emotionally manipulating him too, just like his abusive father!
Lastly, this is a romance novel. The relationship between the characters is vital to the story. And this book kept telling me that the characters have great chemistry, and yet showed nothing but awkward moments between them. I refuse to believe these two were in love. They didn’t sell it enough for me to buy it. Especially not Olivia. She didn’t have enough redeeming qualities to make me like her at the end. Brody was pretty alright. Surely he is better than I, because I would have gotten a restraining order and pressed charges. But oh well.
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The book follows Olivia, a woman hellbent on getting revenge for the injury that took her father out of the NHL. An injury that happened before she was born and was caused by a man she’s never met. To get revenge, she decides to ruin the life and career of that man’s son. A son, mind you, who is completely innocent and unaware of the incident.
Olivia is a horrible person. She’s fake and petty and undeserving of Brody’s love. Brody, the innocent victim of her petty abuse, was a decent person who always tried to do the right thing and was always there for Olivia. He was also a victim of his father’s verbal and psychological abuse for his entire life. The man literally had panic attacks whenever his father came around and lived under the constant pressure his father put on him. I genuinely felt bad for this guy. On the one side, Brody has his overbearing and controlling father, and on the other side, he has Olivia, the girl he thinks he’s dating, who is actively plotting his downfall. And even after seeing that Brody is nothing like his father, Olivia continues her plan of petty vengeance, including sabotaging his equipment in a way that would in real life count as sexual assault, but whatever, I guess. In a way, she’s no better than Brody’s dad, willing to ruin someone’s life and career for her own benefit.
Honestly, I am down for petty revenge. But you can’t be vengeful and then sleep with the guy you allegedly hate. On one page, Olivia is so disgusted by the fact that he got her a jersey with his name on it that she literally gags. And a few pages later, in the same chapter, they’re getting it on. It makes Olivia seem incapable of holding her ground. It also makes her seem all the more evil and inconsistent. She’s not only messing with his career, but she’s emotionally manipulating him too, just like his abusive father!
Lastly, this is a romance novel. The relationship between the characters is vital to the story. And this book kept telling me that the characters have great chemistry, and yet showed nothing but awkward moments between them. I refuse to believe these two were in love. They didn’t sell it enough for me to buy it. Especially not Olivia. She didn’t have enough redeeming qualities to make me like her at the end. Brody was pretty alright. Surely he is better than I, because I would have gotten a restraining order and pressed charges. But oh well.
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
May 27, 2026
Brody was fine if a bit of a bonehead, but Olivia truly sucked. I did not root for her or like her at all. She was mean and vindictive in a way that didn’t make sense (why are you taking the sins of the father out on the son who didn’t even know those sins happened?). I don’t know why her friends liked her when all she did was whine about how awful her life is and take advantage of their kindness. Wearing your grief like a crown and looking down on everyone you think isn’t grieving properly after seven years is atrocious behavior.
May 13, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2026
I found out from other reviews that the author is a hockey wife, so that's cool. This one is perfect if you're really looking for accurate hockey with a side of romance.
Evening the score is a little silly, a little sweet, and a little bit revenge. I think the narrators both did a great job. This one has a lot of great side characters too.
I received an advanced copy of this audiobook for review, all opinions are my own. Thanks to Harlequin Audio for the ALC!
Evening the score is a little silly, a little sweet, and a little bit revenge. I think the narrators both did a great job. This one has a lot of great side characters too.
I received an advanced copy of this audiobook for review, all opinions are my own. Thanks to Harlequin Audio for the ALC!
January 2, 2026
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.
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.
May 25, 2026
This was such a cute and enjoyable read! The romance was sweet, the chemistry kept me invested, and overall it had such a fun vibe throughout.
The middle did drag a little for me pacing-wise, but the story wrapped up really nicely and left me happy with how everything came together in the end. Definitely a solid, feel-good romance read!
The middle did drag a little for me pacing-wise, but the story wrapped up really nicely and left me happy with how everything came together in the end. Definitely a solid, feel-good romance read!
May 24, 2026
Review of Advance Copy from NetGalley
I had so much fun with Evening the Score by Lexi LaFleur Brown! This was my first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. I listened to the audiobook and absolutely flew through it; it was such a cute, fun, and entertaining hockey romance with a surprisingly emotional layer underneath all the banter and chaos.
The story follows Olivia Hinckley, whose life was forever changed after a devastating hit ended her father’s NHL career. After his health continued to decline and he eventually passed away, Olivia completely walked away from hockey despite once being an incredible player herself. She buried that part of her life for years… until Brody Parker the son of the man she blames for her father’s downfall is traded to the Minnesota Freeze.
Determined to ruin the Parker legacy and stop Erik Parker from getting his Hall of Fame induction, Olivia comes up with a revenge plan that involves becoming the Freeze mascot to get close to the team. What she doesn’t expect is Brody himself. Instead of being anything like his father, Brody is sweet, hardworking, and carrying the weight of impossible expectations from a father who constantly takes credit for his success.
I loved the dynamic between Olivia and Brody so much. Their banter was hilarious, and there were multiple moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud because of Olivia’s antics trying to embarrass him. Somehow Brody always managed to turn the situation around, which made their chemistry even better. Watching Olivia slowly realize that Brody was not the villain she expected was such a fun journey.
What I really appreciated was that this wasn’t just a typical hockey romance. Beneath the humor and fake dating setup, there was a really emotional story about grief, family pressure, identity, and learning to let go of anger. Brody especially completely stole my heart.
The audiobook narration was also phenomenal. J. Hunter Ackerman and Julie Lumsden did such an incredible job bringing these characters to life and adding even more personality and emotion to the story. Thank you to NetGalley for this Advance Listening Copy.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read filled with great chemistry, humor, heart, and hockey. If you love fake dating, enemies-to-lovers vibes, fun banter, and hockey romance, I definitely recommend picking this one up!
I had so much fun with Evening the Score by Lexi LaFleur Brown! This was my first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. I listened to the audiobook and absolutely flew through it; it was such a cute, fun, and entertaining hockey romance with a surprisingly emotional layer underneath all the banter and chaos.
The story follows Olivia Hinckley, whose life was forever changed after a devastating hit ended her father’s NHL career. After his health continued to decline and he eventually passed away, Olivia completely walked away from hockey despite once being an incredible player herself. She buried that part of her life for years… until Brody Parker the son of the man she blames for her father’s downfall is traded to the Minnesota Freeze.
Determined to ruin the Parker legacy and stop Erik Parker from getting his Hall of Fame induction, Olivia comes up with a revenge plan that involves becoming the Freeze mascot to get close to the team. What she doesn’t expect is Brody himself. Instead of being anything like his father, Brody is sweet, hardworking, and carrying the weight of impossible expectations from a father who constantly takes credit for his success.
I loved the dynamic between Olivia and Brody so much. Their banter was hilarious, and there were multiple moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud because of Olivia’s antics trying to embarrass him. Somehow Brody always managed to turn the situation around, which made their chemistry even better. Watching Olivia slowly realize that Brody was not the villain she expected was such a fun journey.
What I really appreciated was that this wasn’t just a typical hockey romance. Beneath the humor and fake dating setup, there was a really emotional story about grief, family pressure, identity, and learning to let go of anger. Brody especially completely stole my heart.
The audiobook narration was also phenomenal. J. Hunter Ackerman and Julie Lumsden did such an incredible job bringing these characters to life and adding even more personality and emotion to the story. Thank you to NetGalley for this Advance Listening Copy.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read filled with great chemistry, humor, heart, and hockey. If you love fake dating, enemies-to-lovers vibes, fun banter, and hockey romance, I definitely recommend picking this one up!
Read
June 2, 2026what upsets me the most about this book is that it had potential!! there are ideas in this book that could be so interesting, the indigenous daughter of an NHL star who died from CTE, a current hockey star being verbally abused by his extremely famous, beloved father, both main characters struggling with their relationships to said fathers and by extension the sport of hockey?? unfortunately the author chose to make the FMC such a villain it became near impossible to root for her. i can’t believe i’m saying this but MMC (whose name is Brody, another crime of this book) deserves BETTER than Olivia. do you know how insane a book you have to write for me to be rooting for the MAN in a straight romance? Brody could be a very unique take on tired hockey romance tropes but instead his teammates call him “Bromeo” bc they caught him with *gasp* a book! in the locker room!
i was rooting for this book so hard bc we need more indigenous romance but instead we get insane lines like “as a man that loves to read, i’m going to get a read on her” PLS
i was rooting for this book so hard bc we need more indigenous romance but instead we get insane lines like “as a man that loves to read, i’m going to get a read on her” PLS
April 29, 2026
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!
💫💫💫 | 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!
May 28, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4 for goodreads
I really had fun reading this second book by Lexi LaFleur Brown. Olivia is feisty, fierce, doesn't know when to let a grudge go, and extremely loyal. I liked her a lot as a FMC. Brody, the golden retriever to her black cat. The calm to her storm. Parts of the story felt a little underdeveloped - maybe more yearning or pining. But I also thought their romance was so seamless and natural there didn't necessarily needed to be all the yearning/pining. And I appreciated the lack of drama (despite the fact that there could have been a lot). Overall, a fun hockey romance with great character growth. I will definitely continuing reading more books from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC of this story.
I really had fun reading this second book by Lexi LaFleur Brown. Olivia is feisty, fierce, doesn't know when to let a grudge go, and extremely loyal. I liked her a lot as a FMC. Brody, the golden retriever to her black cat. The calm to her storm. Parts of the story felt a little underdeveloped - maybe more yearning or pining. But I also thought their romance was so seamless and natural there didn't necessarily needed to be all the yearning/pining. And I appreciated the lack of drama (despite the fact that there could have been a lot). Overall, a fun hockey romance with great character growth. I will definitely continuing reading more books from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC of this story.
June 5, 2026
Can I rate hockey and romance separately? I really want to.
As a hockey fan, I love the accuracy with which Lexi talks about the sport and the culture, too. Many authors could learn from her!
As a romance fan, I struggled. It took me three solid days to get through a book I would normally read in one day.
The characters were surprisingly unlikable, juvenile and the chemistry between them was simply nonexistent.
Ultimately, despite a few funny moments, I felt nothing, reading this book.
As a hockey fan, I love the accuracy with which Lexi talks about the sport and the culture, too. Many authors could learn from her!
As a romance fan, I struggled. It took me three solid days to get through a book I would normally read in one day.
The characters were surprisingly unlikable, juvenile and the chemistry between them was simply nonexistent.
Ultimately, despite a few funny moments, I felt nothing, reading this book.
January 10, 2026
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.
June 1, 2026
Better than her first book, but there is just something missing in the writing. I did like all the MN references, you can tell from the time she spent here, it was a loved time and she got what it meant to be here.
May 29, 2026
this was so much fun!!!
i really appreciate the indigenous and poc rep considering how rare that is in hockey both irl and in fiction
i also just love how much lexi actually knows and understands hockey it's so refreshing
i really appreciate the indigenous and poc rep considering how rare that is in hockey both irl and in fiction
i also just love how much lexi actually knows and understands hockey it's so refreshing
May 29, 2026
3.5 stars
Very funny and charming. A well established cast of characters with a strong romance at its core.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Very funny and charming. A well established cast of characters with a strong romance at its core.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
June 4, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! Lexi has improved so much from her first novel. The story was fun and funny and I honestly never knew which way it was gonna go. Olivia and Brody are everything, the banter was *chefs kiss* and her ploys to ruin him only making him better was hilarious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2026
**Thank you NetGalley for the ALC”
3.5⭐️ I thought this was so fun & cute!! Was a very quick read. The FMC being the mascot along with the banter was so funny to me. I also loved the mention of Master Chief from Halo because my husband is a Halo FANATIC😂
3.5⭐️ I thought this was so fun & cute!! Was a very quick read. The FMC being the mascot along with the banter was so funny to me. I also loved the mention of Master Chief from Halo because my husband is a Halo FANATIC😂
June 26, 2026
Aggggh, hockey romance perfection!! 🏒❤️
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
If you loved The Deal by Elle Kennedy, you need to add Evening the Score to your TBR immediately. This was a true sports romance with actual hockey in it, and I devoured every single page!
Lexi LaFleur Brown absolutely nailed the tropes here:
💚He Falls First(And oh my goodness, Brody had it SO bad for Olivia!)
🕵️♂️ Secret Identity / Secret Dating (The mascot revenge plot was so fun!)
💔 Enemies-to-Lovers / Revenge Plot
I honestly had it down bad for Brody just as much as he had it for Olivia. He is the ultimate book boyfriend. The chemistry, the banter, and the on-ice accuracy made this an incredible read. I am desperately crossing my fingers that this series continues because I need more of this world. But even if it's a standalone, I totally loved this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the early copy!
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
If you loved The Deal by Elle Kennedy, you need to add Evening the Score to your TBR immediately. This was a true sports romance with actual hockey in it, and I devoured every single page!
Lexi LaFleur Brown absolutely nailed the tropes here:
💚He Falls First(And oh my goodness, Brody had it SO bad for Olivia!)
🕵️♂️ Secret Identity / Secret Dating (The mascot revenge plot was so fun!)
💔 Enemies-to-Lovers / Revenge Plot
I honestly had it down bad for Brody just as much as he had it for Olivia. He is the ultimate book boyfriend. The chemistry, the banter, and the on-ice accuracy made this an incredible read. I am desperately crossing my fingers that this series continues because I need more of this world. But even if it's a standalone, I totally loved this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the early copy!
Read
March 17, 2026If 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!
February 25, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2026
Olivia Hinkley’s father was a star hockey player for the Minnesota Freeze until his career was cut short by a bad hit from Erik Parker. It completely derailed her family. Now Erik is up for induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame and his son, Brody, has just been picked up by the Freeze. Olivia’s middle name is grudge and she is looking for revenge, a way to ruin the Parker name like the Parker’s ruined her family. When a temporary job to be the Freeze’s mascot opens up, Olivia takes it with a plan to sabotage Brody and expose his father. What she doesn’t anticipate is that Brody is nothing like his father.
I read this to satisfy a prompt for a challenge I am doing. If I had been able to find any other book that fit, I would have ditched this one. I knew by the end of chapter 1 that this was not going to be the book for me. This whole story was so cringey and I am so sorry that I wasted good time just to satisfy a challenge category.
I have no issue with revenge plots but this was just vindictive and mean.The entire premise for the whole story is just so juvenile. I felt no connection to the characters and no chemistry between the characters. The female main character is painfully immature. I spent almost every one of her chapters rolling my eyes. This is supposed to be an adult woman and she chooses to be a mascot for a professional hockey team so that she can torture the new star player because she holds a grudge against his father. Everything about this screams juvenile and petty.
As for the main male character, he is portrayed as the son who is pressured by his father to follow in his footsteps and be a star hockey player. His father is this pretentious, narcissistic terrible person that the mmc wants to be nothing like. But then he does all of these things that make me want to gag. He points out that his car is a maserati and that he uses organic toothpaste. He gave her his jersey as a gift. Not the jersey off his back but a new release jersey that has his name on it. He just says things and does things that make him feel like the nepo-baby he keeps saying he isn’t. And the spicy scenes just gave me the ick. Who has sex with someone that they claim to hate and want to ruin and are only dating for the sole purpose of torturing.
The narration for this really didn’t help either. I really disliked the voices from the male narrator. The voice he uses for “Chef” sounds more like Pee Wee Herman than a hockey player. And the voice he uses for Brody’s Agent had me laughing out loud. The female narrator was a little better but I am not sure I will be listening to any other books by these narrators.
I am not trying to be mean or disrespectful but this just felt so bad, so unrealistic and unnatural.
I read this to satisfy a prompt for a challenge I am doing. If I had been able to find any other book that fit, I would have ditched this one. I knew by the end of chapter 1 that this was not going to be the book for me. This whole story was so cringey and I am so sorry that I wasted good time just to satisfy a challenge category.
I have no issue with revenge plots but this was just vindictive and mean.The entire premise for the whole story is just so juvenile. I felt no connection to the characters and no chemistry between the characters. The female main character is painfully immature. I spent almost every one of her chapters rolling my eyes. This is supposed to be an adult woman and she chooses to be a mascot for a professional hockey team so that she can torture the new star player because she holds a grudge against his father. Everything about this screams juvenile and petty.
As for the main male character, he is portrayed as the son who is pressured by his father to follow in his footsteps and be a star hockey player. His father is this pretentious, narcissistic terrible person that the mmc wants to be nothing like. But then he does all of these things that make me want to gag. He points out that his car is a maserati and that he uses organic toothpaste. He gave her his jersey as a gift. Not the jersey off his back but a new release jersey that has his name on it. He just says things and does things that make him feel like the nepo-baby he keeps saying he isn’t. And the spicy scenes just gave me the ick. Who has sex with someone that they claim to hate and want to ruin and are only dating for the sole purpose of torturing.
The narration for this really didn’t help either. I really disliked the voices from the male narrator. The voice he uses for “Chef” sounds more like Pee Wee Herman than a hockey player. And the voice he uses for Brody’s Agent had me laughing out loud. The female narrator was a little better but I am not sure I will be listening to any other books by these narrators.
I am not trying to be mean or disrespectful but this just felt so bad, so unrealistic and unnatural.
May 26, 2026
As a fan of the author's online content, I was really excited to read Evening the Score. I think, despite its cute and somewhat trope-y moments, this book is quite ambitious for a romance novel.
It was so exciting to see my own Indigenous culture and language in a romance novel, especially from a female protagonist. Moreover, Brown doesn't just off-handedly mention this aspect of Olivia's identity; it is continuously incorporated and showcased throughout the novel through her relationships and inner monologues. It really warmed my heart to see an Indigenous woman take center stage in a genre that often excludes and vilifies non-white characters.
I also really enjoyed Olivia's wit and banter with her love interest, Brody. Their relationship felt very natural and followed a logical progression that I often find misses the mark in some romance novels. The chemistry was well done by Brown and had me fully invested in the outcome of their relationship within the first half of the story.
While I think the novel has a good plot structure, the writing was lacking at times. The first few chapters felt quite choppy and fragmented with excessive details and more telling than showing in inital characterization and world-building. Once the story was a few chapters in, I found the writing to find its flow and come together much more smoothly than in the beginning. Additionally, I think there were moments where characterizations could have been given more depth or range, just to allow for motivations to feel a bit more fleshed out and less tied to the necessity of the plot. I also wish that Brown would have provided a different outcome for the "too guilty to come clean" trope, as it felt a bit overplayed and predictable.
Overall, I really enjoyed the heart of this book. Brown's love for hockey, romance, and Indigenous culture really bled through into the story in a meaningful and hopeful way. The acknowledgements at the end of the book mention this and were very beautifully done.
For any romance fans, I would recommend this story if you are looking to find a fresh perspective on the hockey romance genre, as Brown has created a unique story that will still fulfill all your romance requirements.
Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC. Release day is tomorrow!!
It was so exciting to see my own Indigenous culture and language in a romance novel, especially from a female protagonist. Moreover, Brown doesn't just off-handedly mention this aspect of Olivia's identity; it is continuously incorporated and showcased throughout the novel through her relationships and inner monologues. It really warmed my heart to see an Indigenous woman take center stage in a genre that often excludes and vilifies non-white characters.
I also really enjoyed Olivia's wit and banter with her love interest, Brody. Their relationship felt very natural and followed a logical progression that I often find misses the mark in some romance novels. The chemistry was well done by Brown and had me fully invested in the outcome of their relationship within the first half of the story.
While I think the novel has a good plot structure, the writing was lacking at times. The first few chapters felt quite choppy and fragmented with excessive details and more telling than showing in inital characterization and world-building. Once the story was a few chapters in, I found the writing to find its flow and come together much more smoothly than in the beginning. Additionally, I think there were moments where characterizations could have been given more depth or range, just to allow for motivations to feel a bit more fleshed out and less tied to the necessity of the plot. I also wish that Brown would have provided a different outcome for the "too guilty to come clean" trope, as it felt a bit overplayed and predictable.
Overall, I really enjoyed the heart of this book. Brown's love for hockey, romance, and Indigenous culture really bled through into the story in a meaningful and hopeful way. The acknowledgements at the end of the book mention this and were very beautifully done.
For any romance fans, I would recommend this story if you are looking to find a fresh perspective on the hockey romance genre, as Brown has created a unique story that will still fulfill all your romance requirements.
Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC. Release day is tomorrow!!
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