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Minnesota Mustangs #1
Lovesick
Dancer and self-proclaimed perfectionist, Merit Lawson, has spent her whole life appeasing others, including walking away from a promising dance career. After she collapses following a heart-related incident at her old college, her helicopter parents relocate her back home to snowy Minnesota—where hockey is a religion, and the players are gods. Merit wants one last night of freedom before she’s thrown into a maelstrom of inflated egos and bad decisions, even if that means becoming a hookup culture statistic.
NHL-bound hockey player, Crew Calloway, yearns to be seen for who he is, rather than his flashy accomplishments or playboy reputation. With a deadbeat dad and a roster of manipulative exes, it’s going to take a lot to crumble his defenses. However, unexpected sparks fly when he meets one fiery, pint-sized brunette at the bar who seems to be the only girl who doesn’t know his name. Before long, they’re back at his place executing the perfect hat trick—sans clothes. But just as Crew thinks he’s found his match, she disappears the next morning.
When Crew gets a dinner invite from his coach, he doesn’t expect his blast from a not-so-distant past to answer the door. Merit has a personal vendetta against the hockey player species, and Crew knows that dating the coach’s daughter would end his career, but neither of them can deny the unbidden hunger they share. Now, growing closer than ever after being assigned to the same fundraiser committee, their hormones will be the least of their worries if Merit’s father finds out about their not-so-platonic relationship.
Will Crew and Merit fold under the pressures of the outside world, or will love finally be in the cards for two romantically challenged souls?
Lovesick is a heart-warming college hockey romance featuring a bad boy hockey captain with a thirst for trouble, a good girl dancer who’s determined to stay away from him, a fundraiser of epic proportions, spice hot enough to make you question your religious values, and a chance at love between two star-crossed lovers. It’s the first book in a series but can be read as a standalone.
Lovesick is a college hockey romance, coach’s daughter, dislike to lovers, friends with benefits, hockey captain x dancer, bad boy x good girl, forced proximity romance with no cheating and a satisfying happily ever after.
NHL-bound hockey player, Crew Calloway, yearns to be seen for who he is, rather than his flashy accomplishments or playboy reputation. With a deadbeat dad and a roster of manipulative exes, it’s going to take a lot to crumble his defenses. However, unexpected sparks fly when he meets one fiery, pint-sized brunette at the bar who seems to be the only girl who doesn’t know his name. Before long, they’re back at his place executing the perfect hat trick—sans clothes. But just as Crew thinks he’s found his match, she disappears the next morning.
When Crew gets a dinner invite from his coach, he doesn’t expect his blast from a not-so-distant past to answer the door. Merit has a personal vendetta against the hockey player species, and Crew knows that dating the coach’s daughter would end his career, but neither of them can deny the unbidden hunger they share. Now, growing closer than ever after being assigned to the same fundraiser committee, their hormones will be the least of their worries if Merit’s father finds out about their not-so-platonic relationship.
Will Crew and Merit fold under the pressures of the outside world, or will love finally be in the cards for two romantically challenged souls?
Lovesick is a heart-warming college hockey romance featuring a bad boy hockey captain with a thirst for trouble, a good girl dancer who’s determined to stay away from him, a fundraiser of epic proportions, spice hot enough to make you question your religious values, and a chance at love between two star-crossed lovers. It’s the first book in a series but can be read as a standalone.
Lovesick is a college hockey romance, coach’s daughter, dislike to lovers, friends with benefits, hockey captain x dancer, bad boy x good girl, forced proximity romance with no cheating and a satisfying happily ever after.
376 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2025
657 people are currently reading
5350 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Briars
11 books811 followersCeleste Briars is an indie author who specializes in spicy hockey romances. She’s a UC Davis alumnus with a bachelor’s in psychology. She loves creating memorable meet-cutes and happily ever afters. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching horror movies, playing with her cats, or dancing the night away with her friends. If you’re looking for books with spice hot enough to question your religious values and feel-good moments that make your heart sing, please cuddle up with a Reapers novel and stay a while!
You can keep in touch through Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/celestebria...) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@celestebriars...).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
October 12, 2025
જ⁀➴ 3 stars
⋆｡‧˚ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆
So a confession: I actually read this book a couple of days ago, and I ended up reading it in one sitting, so I never ended up updating my Goodreads about this at all. This was my first Celeste Briars book, and I've seen it pop up here and there on Bookstagram, so I decided to give it a go. This won't be a super long review because there's not a whole ton for me to say about it, so here goes nothing!
Merit Lawson is a competitive dancer. Dancing has been her entire life, and a way for her to feel free from the shackles of her overprotective parents, who have her every move documented and tracked ever since she suffered a medical incident at Rutgers, her old college. Her parents have her move back home, where she decides that she should have one night of fun without regard to the other stressors in her life. Enter Crew Calloway, the new hockey team captain of Merit's new college in Minnesota. AKA, the same team that her dad coaches. When a class project forces Merit to partner with Crew and the hockey team for the season, Merit and Crew have to work together to make the project a success, all while trying to fight their feelings for each other that were lingering from their one-night stand, AND skirting around Merit's dad.
First off, I LOVED Merit and Crew's dynamic. You can tell right away that he cares SO much about her, and he would do anything for her. He's the only person who doesn't see Merit as someone fragile and having to wrap her up in bubble wrap for the rest of her life because of her heart condition. Sure, he wants to help her manage her condition, but at the end of the day, he sees her as an equal, and that's what Merit's character arc is all about. He sees her as someone who's strong, capable, independent, and willing to do anything she puts her mind to. On the other hand, Merit sees Crew as the light in her life in the same way she sees dancing, and she sees Crew for who he really is, beyond his reputation as an esteemed hockey player. I don't think that I can put this any better than Crew does himself in the story:
Like I've said before in other reviews, I don't really tend to get emotionally attached to characters or feel a deep connection with most of them, but Merit? Holy crap, when I was reading the book, I had that "Wait, is this fucking play about us?" moment from Euphoria. I swear, Celeste Briars just stalked me and my life and made Merit's character backstory based on my own. Obviously, she didn't LMAO, but I think Merit takes the cake for the character I single-handedly relate to the most. I related so much to her relationship with her parents, and while I don't have a heart condition that could leave me dead at any moment, I think most people with helicopter parents/extremely overprotective parents can relate a lot to Merit and find comfort in her character arc. Her struggle to find her own independence outside of her parents' overprotectiveness and wanting to get them to trust her to make the right decisions—even though she is a fully grown adult capable of making her own choices and knowing right from wrong—is something I relate to SO much, especially as someone who grew up with strict, overbearing, helicopter Asian parents.
I took off two stars for four reasons:
ʚ🩰ɞ The writing style: The writing style overall was super easy and fun to read, but I think something is jarring and worth mentioning about how the book would randomly go from being super casual and jokey when it comes to Crew and Merit's inner monologues to being overly profound and formal in contrast in different occasions and scenes. I thought their inner monologues were funny, but I think it's worth mentioning that it's cringy in comparison to the more profound scenes and serious conversations that come up throughout the story and almost takes away from it all.
ʚ🩰ɞ The smut: This kind of goes hand in hand with the last point, but Merit comparing Crew's abs to a pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls (you know, the King's Hawaiian dinner rolls you see at the grocery store) and calling his dick a "meat thermometer" (no, I'm unfortunately not making this up) was honestly cringe-worthy. At least Crew was also cringing when she dropped the meat thermometer line, so it's not like I was the only person who was appalled by that.
ʚ🩰ɞ Crew's backstory: We get to learn A LOT about Merit and her relationship with her parents, her heart condition, why she dances, etc. The only thing I could tell you about Crew is that he loves hockey and wants to make it to the NHL, and his relationship with his parents is pretty rocky, especially with his mom. I wish we had gotten to learn more about his past! I would've also loved to see more hockey scenes with Crew playing as well; I think we only had like, one scene at a hockey game? If it's a college hockey romance, let's see some action on the hockey rink during a game and not just at practice!
ʚ🩰ɞ Merit: As much as I love Merit, I would've LOVED to see more scenes of her dancing. Dance is her entire life. It's her creative outlet! It's been part of her life for so long, yet we only get one scene of her dancing, except for any flashbacks to her time on the dance team at Rutgers before she transferred back home. If you're going to create a character whose passion in life is dancing, wouldn't you want to show that in the story?
(Also, from a pharmacist's perspective: I'm SO glad that Celeste Briars did her research on different antiarrhythmic drugs and what they do to help Merit's heart condition rather than just throwing a bunch of random meds around and acting like no one will notice the difference! One of my biggest gripes is when people get medical things wrong in a story as a healthcare professional myself, so I appreciate the attention to detail here!)
Overall, if you're looking for a quick and easy palate cleanser and a hockey romance is in the cards for you, check this book out! I'm curious to see where the rest of this series goes next, and knowing that Knox's book is next, based on the preview at the end of the book, I can't wait to see what Celeste Briars has in store for him.
⋆｡‧˚ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content, medical event leading to hospitalization
"She's my North Star, and that scarlet-tipped needle inside me will always point toward her. Toward home."
⋆｡‧˚ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆
So a confession: I actually read this book a couple of days ago, and I ended up reading it in one sitting, so I never ended up updating my Goodreads about this at all. This was my first Celeste Briars book, and I've seen it pop up here and there on Bookstagram, so I decided to give it a go. This won't be a super long review because there's not a whole ton for me to say about it, so here goes nothing!
Merit Lawson is a competitive dancer. Dancing has been her entire life, and a way for her to feel free from the shackles of her overprotective parents, who have her every move documented and tracked ever since she suffered a medical incident at Rutgers, her old college. Her parents have her move back home, where she decides that she should have one night of fun without regard to the other stressors in her life. Enter Crew Calloway, the new hockey team captain of Merit's new college in Minnesota. AKA, the same team that her dad coaches. When a class project forces Merit to partner with Crew and the hockey team for the season, Merit and Crew have to work together to make the project a success, all while trying to fight their feelings for each other that were lingering from their one-night stand, AND skirting around Merit's dad.
First off, I LOVED Merit and Crew's dynamic. You can tell right away that he cares SO much about her, and he would do anything for her. He's the only person who doesn't see Merit as someone fragile and having to wrap her up in bubble wrap for the rest of her life because of her heart condition. Sure, he wants to help her manage her condition, but at the end of the day, he sees her as an equal, and that's what Merit's character arc is all about. He sees her as someone who's strong, capable, independent, and willing to do anything she puts her mind to. On the other hand, Merit sees Crew as the light in her life in the same way she sees dancing, and she sees Crew for who he really is, beyond his reputation as an esteemed hockey player. I don't think that I can put this any better than Crew does himself in the story:
"She's the only person who's ever seen me for who I am, not for who I present myself to be. She never cared about my stupid title or my reputation. She cared about me.
Like I've said before in other reviews, I don't really tend to get emotionally attached to characters or feel a deep connection with most of them, but Merit? Holy crap, when I was reading the book, I had that "Wait, is this fucking play about us?" moment from Euphoria. I swear, Celeste Briars just stalked me and my life and made Merit's character backstory based on my own. Obviously, she didn't LMAO, but I think Merit takes the cake for the character I single-handedly relate to the most. I related so much to her relationship with her parents, and while I don't have a heart condition that could leave me dead at any moment, I think most people with helicopter parents/extremely overprotective parents can relate a lot to Merit and find comfort in her character arc. Her struggle to find her own independence outside of her parents' overprotectiveness and wanting to get them to trust her to make the right decisions—even though she is a fully grown adult capable of making her own choices and knowing right from wrong—is something I relate to SO much, especially as someone who grew up with strict, overbearing, helicopter Asian parents.
I took off two stars for four reasons:
ʚ🩰ɞ The writing style: The writing style overall was super easy and fun to read, but I think something is jarring and worth mentioning about how the book would randomly go from being super casual and jokey when it comes to Crew and Merit's inner monologues to being overly profound and formal in contrast in different occasions and scenes. I thought their inner monologues were funny, but I think it's worth mentioning that it's cringy in comparison to the more profound scenes and serious conversations that come up throughout the story and almost takes away from it all.
ʚ🩰ɞ The smut: This kind of goes hand in hand with the last point, but Merit comparing Crew's abs to a pack of Hawaiian sweet rolls (you know, the King's Hawaiian dinner rolls you see at the grocery store) and calling his dick a "meat thermometer" (no, I'm unfortunately not making this up) was honestly cringe-worthy. At least Crew was also cringing when she dropped the meat thermometer line, so it's not like I was the only person who was appalled by that.
ʚ🩰ɞ Crew's backstory: We get to learn A LOT about Merit and her relationship with her parents, her heart condition, why she dances, etc. The only thing I could tell you about Crew is that he loves hockey and wants to make it to the NHL, and his relationship with his parents is pretty rocky, especially with his mom. I wish we had gotten to learn more about his past! I would've also loved to see more hockey scenes with Crew playing as well; I think we only had like, one scene at a hockey game? If it's a college hockey romance, let's see some action on the hockey rink during a game and not just at practice!
ʚ🩰ɞ Merit: As much as I love Merit, I would've LOVED to see more scenes of her dancing. Dance is her entire life. It's her creative outlet! It's been part of her life for so long, yet we only get one scene of her dancing, except for any flashbacks to her time on the dance team at Rutgers before she transferred back home. If you're going to create a character whose passion in life is dancing, wouldn't you want to show that in the story?
(Also, from a pharmacist's perspective: I'm SO glad that Celeste Briars did her research on different antiarrhythmic drugs and what they do to help Merit's heart condition rather than just throwing a bunch of random meds around and acting like no one will notice the difference! One of my biggest gripes is when people get medical things wrong in a story as a healthcare professional myself, so I appreciate the attention to detail here!)
Overall, if you're looking for a quick and easy palate cleanser and a hockey romance is in the cards for you, check this book out! I'm curious to see where the rest of this series goes next, and knowing that Knox's book is next, based on the preview at the end of the book, I can't wait to see what Celeste Briars has in store for him.
⋆｡‧˚ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆ ʚ🩰ɞ˚‧｡⋆
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content, medical event leading to hospitalization
September 1, 2025
I wanted to like this one so much more, but the tone was so all over the place that it became incredibly distracting 😭
Half of the language was deeply descriptive, poetic, and flourished - and the other half was what I can only describe as “college frat bro” 🤷♀️ I actually really liked the chemistry between the MMC and FMC (I love a reformed playboy/down bad/yearning trope) but the mixed tones took me out of the story - I just felt confused! I also wish that Merit’s dancing was more involved in the story; it’s supposed to be a huge part of her life and her dream, but there’s literally only one scene in the book with her dancing (besides any flashbacks to her past school).
Easy-to-enjoy characters and found family, sizzling chemistry between MMC and FMC, and all the good hockey romance vibes, but too hot-and-cold with the tone/language/writing style for me to really get into this one!
Thank you to Love Notes PR for this eARC!
Half of the language was deeply descriptive, poetic, and flourished - and the other half was what I can only describe as “college frat bro” 🤷♀️ I actually really liked the chemistry between the MMC and FMC (I love a reformed playboy/down bad/yearning trope) but the mixed tones took me out of the story - I just felt confused! I also wish that Merit’s dancing was more involved in the story; it’s supposed to be a huge part of her life and her dream, but there’s literally only one scene in the book with her dancing (besides any flashbacks to her past school).
Easy-to-enjoy characters and found family, sizzling chemistry between MMC and FMC, and all the good hockey romance vibes, but too hot-and-cold with the tone/language/writing style for me to really get into this one!
Thank you to Love Notes PR for this eARC!
September 7, 2025
3☆
i enjoyed this one. it was a cute little palate cleanser and a cute hockey college romance, if you’re looking for one.
crew was so cute and such a lover boy. everything a girl needs, honestly. he’s the definition of a man written by a woman and i love it. merit was extremely relatable. she’s battling health issues and fears that she’s going to disappoint those closest to her, especially her parents. she’s trying to navigate how to live her life and continue to respect some boundaries her parents have set in place.
although i enjoyed this, there were some moments that had me cringing. referring to his private areas as a mushroom just doesn’t do for me. i was trying so hard to forget that part, but it was difficult.
another thing that was a bit disappointing was that we didn’t get to see much of crew’s past. he opened up about his family and his father leaving at a young age, being raised by only his mother and struggling financially. but that was it. he opened up to merit in one conversation and his past was completely glossed over. not even a single conversation with his mom throughout the book?! i wanted to see more of his past and what he went through.
overall, it’s a cute read. if you’re looking for something to shut your mind off, this one’s for you.
i enjoyed this one. it was a cute little palate cleanser and a cute hockey college romance, if you’re looking for one.
crew was so cute and such a lover boy. everything a girl needs, honestly. he’s the definition of a man written by a woman and i love it. merit was extremely relatable. she’s battling health issues and fears that she’s going to disappoint those closest to her, especially her parents. she’s trying to navigate how to live her life and continue to respect some boundaries her parents have set in place.
although i enjoyed this, there were some moments that had me cringing. referring to his private areas as a mushroom just doesn’t do for me. i was trying so hard to forget that part, but it was difficult.
another thing that was a bit disappointing was that we didn’t get to see much of crew’s past. he opened up about his family and his father leaving at a young age, being raised by only his mother and struggling financially. but that was it. he opened up to merit in one conversation and his past was completely glossed over. not even a single conversation with his mom throughout the book?! i wanted to see more of his past and what he went through.
overall, it’s a cute read. if you’re looking for something to shut your mind off, this one’s for you.
August 24, 2025
Lovesick 🏒
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Celeste Briars for trusting me with this amazing ARC!⭐
Merit has a whole dance career infront of her.Until she collapses after a heart-related incident and her whole world shatters in pieces.
Just like that she back in Minessota,and during her last night of freedom she decides to became a number on the hoockup statistics.
Crew is back at his place with a girl that does not literally know anything about.The only thing he is sure about her is that she just magnitized him in an instant.Just a hoockup and he won't see her again.Right?
Holly.Sh*t.
I just got off of an emotional roller coaster.I laughed,loved,gigled and cried in 376 pages.
This book was just AMAZING!
To start with I loved our main girl Merit a lot.I found her strong,not just because she has a life threatening heart condition,but mostly because she had the courage & power,to get back to her feet after losing literally what she worked her whole for.
That needs guts.Real guts.
Apart from that she was so lovely and I just enjoyed reading about her so,so much!
On the other hand,my man,-sorry Merit-Crew was literal fire.
I mean it.If there was a description for the fire emoji it would be a picture of Crew Calloway.That man had me so well,with his manners,his strength-emotional & physical😏,his determination to work everything out and how hard working he was.So,no he is not your average hockey player mc.
You will about someone who has been through a lot an still tries to find a the good in people.You will read about someone that loves uncoditionally,with all his heart.And girls,those are the men we need to read about 🩷.
An another aspect of the story that I loved,is that we had representation of a problem from both sides.What I mean by that is we have an absent parent going on & an overly invasive parent at the same time.We saw the real flaws about both of the cases and how it truly impacts the child's life.(yes,we have a happy ending don't worry)
Lastly,something I found super smart was the use of sm*t in this book.Of course it was good but the moments she added the scenes were so right about the way the story & the connections were formed.My favourite,was the place the last scene was.Just 🤌🏻.
Long story short,this book isn't goot.IT IS PERFECT!
(just go read it💋)
out on Sept,4th🫶🏻
5⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Celeste Briars for trusting me with this amazing ARC!⭐
Merit has a whole dance career infront of her.Until she collapses after a heart-related incident and her whole world shatters in pieces.
Just like that she back in Minessota,and during her last night of freedom she decides to became a number on the hoockup statistics.
Crew is back at his place with a girl that does not literally know anything about.The only thing he is sure about her is that she just magnitized him in an instant.Just a hoockup and he won't see her again.Right?
Holly.Sh*t.
I just got off of an emotional roller coaster.I laughed,loved,gigled and cried in 376 pages.
This book was just AMAZING!
To start with I loved our main girl Merit a lot.I found her strong,not just because she has a life threatening heart condition,but mostly because she had the courage & power,to get back to her feet after losing literally what she worked her whole for.
That needs guts.Real guts.
Apart from that she was so lovely and I just enjoyed reading about her so,so much!
On the other hand,my man,-sorry Merit-Crew was literal fire.
I mean it.If there was a description for the fire emoji it would be a picture of Crew Calloway.That man had me so well,with his manners,his strength-emotional & physical😏,his determination to work everything out and how hard working he was.So,no he is not your average hockey player mc.
You will about someone who has been through a lot an still tries to find a the good in people.You will read about someone that loves uncoditionally,with all his heart.And girls,those are the men we need to read about 🩷.
An another aspect of the story that I loved,is that we had representation of a problem from both sides.What I mean by that is we have an absent parent going on & an overly invasive parent at the same time.We saw the real flaws about both of the cases and how it truly impacts the child's life.(yes,we have a happy ending don't worry)
Lastly,something I found super smart was the use of sm*t in this book.Of course it was good but the moments she added the scenes were so right about the way the story & the connections were formed.My favourite,was the place the last scene was.Just 🤌🏻.
Long story short,this book isn't goot.IT IS PERFECT!
(just go read it💋)
out on Sept,4th🫶🏻
5⭐
September 4, 2025
Read if you like:dancer heroine, hockey hero, forced proximity, banter, enemies to lovers
Review:
I signed up for arc with little to no expectation solely because the trope and blurb did me in and I was intrigued and i actually enjoyed it so much!! The banter in this book was insane and so much fun to read, i loved the dynamics of the main characters.
The chemistry between the two was something so explosive. I loved the vulnerability of the characters, how they worked through anxiety and how they were there for each other in a way which was so comforting.
The characters were really suited for each other and there were scenes which actually made me laugh out loud and cry too😭
Overall, a really good read and I can’t wait to read more of the author.
Arc provided by love notes pr
December 31, 2025
Crew + Merit
-college romance
-dancer x hockey captain
-coach’s daughter
-bad boy x good girl
-forced proximity
-friends with benefits
i actually really really enjoyed this story! even tho it was sort of full of some cliche college sports romance tropes it was done with a way that was still so unique! crew actually wasn’t a dummy who couldn’t communicate, he knew exactly what he wanted & went after it from the beginning! & merit was a dirty talking girl & i LOVEDDDD that!! she was a tad bit annoying tho not following thru on her promises but it was still super enjoyable!!
-college romance
-dancer x hockey captain
-coach’s daughter
-bad boy x good girl
-forced proximity
-friends with benefits
i actually really really enjoyed this story! even tho it was sort of full of some cliche college sports romance tropes it was done with a way that was still so unique! crew actually wasn’t a dummy who couldn’t communicate, he knew exactly what he wanted & went after it from the beginning! & merit was a dirty talking girl & i LOVEDDDD that!! she was a tad bit annoying tho not following thru on her promises but it was still super enjoyable!!
August 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 5
“Growing close to someone is a privilege, not a promise.”
Opossums are cool, a walking crime scene?, a cozy backseat but with a horror twist? - well sort of, LOTS and LOTS of banter, first LOVE x2, where can I sign up for the auction?, and something about climbing a mansion…
First of all I want to thank Celeste Briars & Love Notes PR for this incredible opportunity. Lovesick was my first ever (e)ARC and Celeste Briars - definitely not my last though!!
The last couple of weeks I had seen several teasers for Lovesick on instagram and I was intrigued immediately. So I straight up added it to my wishlist, but when I saw the opportunity to sign up for an ARC I thought why not take a shot? And here we are.
What was supposed to be just a one night stand and never see you again if it was up to Merit, just takes an unexpected turn when the guy she slept with turns out to be her dad’s new star player. Which is basically equal to the forbidden fruit. Crew Calloway is the new kid in town, promoted as captain of the Minnesota Mustangs. A guy that never cared much about relationships, but couldn’t handle being left behind by the girl that completely changed his brain chemistry. Faith will have it that the two are forced to work together and combine forces when the fundraiser Merit has to organise for her marketing class needs a full dose of ice hockey to be a success. Nothing could be more dangerous than forced proximity with the guy you can’t stand and the girl you can’t have, right? Except a bunch of hormones, sexual tension, secrets, white lies and the fact that it’s forbidden make it an even more dangerous cocktail.
Oh my my…
My first ever Celeste Briars and I absolutely loved it. The chemistry between Merit and Crew, their characters even with everything they have been through, spice so hot that you're almost gasping for air yourself and so much tension that you can hear the sparks crackle. But most of all it's vulnerable, raw, pure and heartwarming. Just as Merit and Crew are. I for one can't wait to read more about the other Mustangs in this series. And it's save to say that I will be getting myself a physical copy of this book as well.
Absolutely OBSESSED with this series already <3
Lovesick is a heartfelt, STEAMY, touching college ice hockey romance with loveable characters. Lessons that everyone has a story they don’t tell. An amazing book that will leave you wanting more.
Honestly, if you’re obsessed with ice hockey romance this is a must read. But also if you’re looking for dislike to lovers, banter as love language, college vibes this one must be added to your TBR.
(I voluntarily received this eARC)
Which tropes to expect:
🏒 Ice Hockey romance
🩰 Dancer x Ice hockey captain
🏒Banter!!!!!
🩰Forced proximity
🏒Forbidden love
🩰Dislike to lovers
“Growing close to someone is a privilege, not a promise.”
Opossums are cool, a walking crime scene?, a cozy backseat but with a horror twist? - well sort of, LOTS and LOTS of banter, first LOVE x2, where can I sign up for the auction?, and something about climbing a mansion…
First of all I want to thank Celeste Briars & Love Notes PR for this incredible opportunity. Lovesick was my first ever (e)ARC and Celeste Briars - definitely not my last though!!
The last couple of weeks I had seen several teasers for Lovesick on instagram and I was intrigued immediately. So I straight up added it to my wishlist, but when I saw the opportunity to sign up for an ARC I thought why not take a shot? And here we are.
What was supposed to be just a one night stand and never see you again if it was up to Merit, just takes an unexpected turn when the guy she slept with turns out to be her dad’s new star player. Which is basically equal to the forbidden fruit. Crew Calloway is the new kid in town, promoted as captain of the Minnesota Mustangs. A guy that never cared much about relationships, but couldn’t handle being left behind by the girl that completely changed his brain chemistry. Faith will have it that the two are forced to work together and combine forces when the fundraiser Merit has to organise for her marketing class needs a full dose of ice hockey to be a success. Nothing could be more dangerous than forced proximity with the guy you can’t stand and the girl you can’t have, right? Except a bunch of hormones, sexual tension, secrets, white lies and the fact that it’s forbidden make it an even more dangerous cocktail.
Oh my my…
My first ever Celeste Briars and I absolutely loved it. The chemistry between Merit and Crew, their characters even with everything they have been through, spice so hot that you're almost gasping for air yourself and so much tension that you can hear the sparks crackle. But most of all it's vulnerable, raw, pure and heartwarming. Just as Merit and Crew are. I for one can't wait to read more about the other Mustangs in this series. And it's save to say that I will be getting myself a physical copy of this book as well.
Absolutely OBSESSED with this series already <3
Lovesick is a heartfelt, STEAMY, touching college ice hockey romance with loveable characters. Lessons that everyone has a story they don’t tell. An amazing book that will leave you wanting more.
Honestly, if you’re obsessed with ice hockey romance this is a must read. But also if you’re looking for dislike to lovers, banter as love language, college vibes this one must be added to your TBR.
(I voluntarily received this eARC)
Which tropes to expect:
🏒 Ice Hockey romance
🩰 Dancer x Ice hockey captain
🏒Banter!!!!!
🩰Forced proximity
🏒Forbidden love
🩰Dislike to lovers
August 6, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨Huge thank you to Celeste Briars and her team for sending me an ARC of Lovesick!✨
Okay, so this book kind of owned me for a second there.
This book was a warm hug, a flirty smirk, and a surprisingly emotional rollercoaster all rolled into one. I really didn’t expect to fall this hard for a hockey romance with a touch of insta-love—but here we are, and honestly, I have zero regrets.
Let’s talk about Crew. He is the hockey captain of my heart. The way this book handled his anxiety was absolutely amazing. It felt so real and honest, but it never became his whole personality. I’m obsessed with how the author let him be vulnerable AND strong—like yes, king, have a panic attack and then still lead your team. We love a mentally healthy icon.
Was it a little insta-lovey? Yeah. But not in the “I just met you and now we’re picking out baby names” kind of way. More like “okay we have way too much chemistry and now we’re spiralling” and…it honestly worked. It gave messy college romance energy but in the best way. Like, chaotic good. Chaotic sexy.
There’s just something magical about a book that makes you giggle, swoon, and also think, “Wait, why am I suddenly getting emotional over these characters???”
Anyway—if you’re into big feelings and big swoons, soft boys with hard bodies (sorry but also not sorry), that perfect “oh no, I’m catching feelings” tension, and romance that respects mental health without turning it into a “lesson”…then Lovesick needs to be on your TBR immediately. Like, yesterday.
Celeste Briars, you have my attention. And probably my lunch money too. 🫶
I cannot wait for everyone else to read this when it comes out!! We’re gonna be so normal about Crew, right? Right. 😇
✨Huge thank you to Celeste Briars and her team for sending me an ARC of Lovesick!✨
Okay, so this book kind of owned me for a second there.
This book was a warm hug, a flirty smirk, and a surprisingly emotional rollercoaster all rolled into one. I really didn’t expect to fall this hard for a hockey romance with a touch of insta-love—but here we are, and honestly, I have zero regrets.
Let’s talk about Crew. He is the hockey captain of my heart. The way this book handled his anxiety was absolutely amazing. It felt so real and honest, but it never became his whole personality. I’m obsessed with how the author let him be vulnerable AND strong—like yes, king, have a panic attack and then still lead your team. We love a mentally healthy icon.
Was it a little insta-lovey? Yeah. But not in the “I just met you and now we’re picking out baby names” kind of way. More like “okay we have way too much chemistry and now we’re spiralling” and…it honestly worked. It gave messy college romance energy but in the best way. Like, chaotic good. Chaotic sexy.
There’s just something magical about a book that makes you giggle, swoon, and also think, “Wait, why am I suddenly getting emotional over these characters???”
Anyway—if you’re into big feelings and big swoons, soft boys with hard bodies (sorry but also not sorry), that perfect “oh no, I’m catching feelings” tension, and romance that respects mental health without turning it into a “lesson”…then Lovesick needs to be on your TBR immediately. Like, yesterday.
Celeste Briars, you have my attention. And probably my lunch money too. 🫶
I cannot wait for everyone else to read this when it comes out!! We’re gonna be so normal about Crew, right? Right. 😇
October 4, 2025
A new series perhaps!?!?
KU Read
350+ Pages
Mustangs Book #1
College Hockey Romance
Hockey Captain x Dancer
Forced Proximity
Forbidden - Coaches daughter
Good Girl x Bad Boy
Reformed Playboy
Merit and Crew meet in a bar and a book up only for her to realise the next morning that he is a hockey player, the one thing she'd sworn off. But it ok, it's not like she'll ever see him again, right...? Until she realises he's the star player and new captain of the hockey team her father coaches...oooops.
I have read other books by Celeste Briars and I have enjoyed them too. This follows a similar theme and is a nice read with quirky side characters that I hope also get their own stories too, I will definitely read them if they do. This story is sweet, has the much desired HEA and has spice too. Merit has Sass, while Crew just melts for his woman like he never had before. Love love and more love!
KU Read
350+ Pages
Mustangs Book #1
College Hockey Romance
Hockey Captain x Dancer
Forced Proximity
Forbidden - Coaches daughter
Good Girl x Bad Boy
Reformed Playboy
Merit and Crew meet in a bar and a book up only for her to realise the next morning that he is a hockey player, the one thing she'd sworn off. But it ok, it's not like she'll ever see him again, right...? Until she realises he's the star player and new captain of the hockey team her father coaches...oooops.
I have read other books by Celeste Briars and I have enjoyed them too. This follows a similar theme and is a nice read with quirky side characters that I hope also get their own stories too, I will definitely read them if they do. This story is sweet, has the much desired HEA and has spice too. Merit has Sass, while Crew just melts for his woman like he never had before. Love love and more love!
September 12, 2025
I was super excited to finally ready one of Celeste Briars books, I am so glad it was Lovesick!
Lovesick is the first book in the new Minnesota Mustangs series, and it starts with a bang from chapter one. I absolutely love the banter and dynamic that Crew & Merit have. That pull and push, then finally giving in to what is inevitable, was perfect! I mean Crew did put in a lot of effort lol.
Lovesick is the first book in the new Minnesota Mustangs series, and it starts with a bang from chapter one. I absolutely love the banter and dynamic that Crew & Merit have. That pull and push, then finally giving in to what is inevitable, was perfect! I mean Crew did put in a lot of effort lol.
October 14, 2025
If this was my first hockey romance, it would be a 5 star. But alas, I have read way too many to count
August 11, 2025
This was such a cute book. As a girly from MN it made me so happy to read a book that takes place close to me.
I really enjoyed Marit's and Crew's banter, and how well they fit together. I think their relationship is so sweet and I loved how she got him to talk to her dad for her project. The auctioning of the players for dates made me laugh.
This was my first ever ARC so that was literally so amazing!
I really enjoyed Marit's and Crew's banter, and how well they fit together. I think their relationship is so sweet and I loved how she got him to talk to her dad for her project. The auctioning of the players for dates made me laugh.
This was my first ever ARC so that was literally so amazing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
﹙ four stars ﹚
let's bring back cute, proper dates in romances! let's bring back characters who actually apologize to each other in relationships! most importantly, let's bring back funny chapter titles!
lovesick just reminded me of everything that i love about sports romances: there was just the right amount of hockey, the perfect amount of spice where it actually drove their relationship and the story forward, and two characters who are very flawed but acknowledge it and love in a very human way.
crew and merit's romance was so real. they do it all almost backwards, with an intense and steamy one night stand after meeting at a college bar before ever learning who each other are—merit being the daughter of crew’s hockey coach. but then from there, they both reconcile their personal struggles, their attraction and interest in each other, and the threat of discovery from merit’s family in such a vulnerable and genuine way.
while reading, i was struck by how self aware both of them were. they both deal with so much, and at the core of their struggles, are simply looking for understanding and love from someone who will accept them wholeheartedly. i loved how the book tackled their insecurities and problems not with denial, but with the very human reaction of being too scared and anxious and fearful to break the status quo and change. they both make mistakes, many of them, but each hurdle that they face only ever leads to better communication, deeper understanding, and meaningful apologies that they both grow from.
i also have to stand up and applaud celeste brairs for writing maybe the most down bad, needy, head-over-heels loverboy i’ve ever read. crew is, aptly, a lovesick puppy the entire book, and i ate that up expeditiously. his pov had some of my favorite lines with him musing over how beautiful merit is, how talented and smart she is, and how he’s never going to wash his shirt again after she’s touched it—a completely logical and appropriate response imo. move over morally grey enemy mmcs, i am a true loverboy believer now because of crew.
the only thing holding me back from giving this a higher rating is that i struggled to get into the prose at times. there are quite a few archaic, four-syllable words used in the copy that i oftentimes had to look up—and constantly having to do that, or risk missing out on the nuances of a description, became a bit tedious. this bogged down some of the more descriptive and emotive paragraphs, however, the dialogue was spot on as were most of their inner thoughts.
edit: and of course i forget to mention, but we get a small sneak peak at the next book (and mmc) at the end of this one, and i am so excited for it already. i am on my hands and knees begging celeste for it immediately.
— thank you so much to love notes pr and the author for the e-arc to review!
let's bring back cute, proper dates in romances! let's bring back characters who actually apologize to each other in relationships! most importantly, let's bring back funny chapter titles!
lovesick just reminded me of everything that i love about sports romances: there was just the right amount of hockey, the perfect amount of spice where it actually drove their relationship and the story forward, and two characters who are very flawed but acknowledge it and love in a very human way.
crew and merit's romance was so real. they do it all almost backwards, with an intense and steamy one night stand after meeting at a college bar before ever learning who each other are—merit being the daughter of crew’s hockey coach. but then from there, they both reconcile their personal struggles, their attraction and interest in each other, and the threat of discovery from merit’s family in such a vulnerable and genuine way.
while reading, i was struck by how self aware both of them were. they both deal with so much, and at the core of their struggles, are simply looking for understanding and love from someone who will accept them wholeheartedly. i loved how the book tackled their insecurities and problems not with denial, but with the very human reaction of being too scared and anxious and fearful to break the status quo and change. they both make mistakes, many of them, but each hurdle that they face only ever leads to better communication, deeper understanding, and meaningful apologies that they both grow from.
i also have to stand up and applaud celeste brairs for writing maybe the most down bad, needy, head-over-heels loverboy i’ve ever read. crew is, aptly, a lovesick puppy the entire book, and i ate that up expeditiously. his pov had some of my favorite lines with him musing over how beautiful merit is, how talented and smart she is, and how he’s never going to wash his shirt again after she’s touched it—a completely logical and appropriate response imo. move over morally grey enemy mmcs, i am a true loverboy believer now because of crew.
the only thing holding me back from giving this a higher rating is that i struggled to get into the prose at times. there are quite a few archaic, four-syllable words used in the copy that i oftentimes had to look up—and constantly having to do that, or risk missing out on the nuances of a description, became a bit tedious. this bogged down some of the more descriptive and emotive paragraphs, however, the dialogue was spot on as were most of their inner thoughts.
edit: and of course i forget to mention, but we get a small sneak peak at the next book (and mmc) at the end of this one, and i am so excited for it already. i am on my hands and knees begging celeste for it immediately.
— thank you so much to love notes pr and the author for the e-arc to review!
October 13, 2025
5 Stars
3 Spice
The way I was not expecting for this book to start out so strong?? One night stand leads to them realizing they can't be together because she's the coaches daughter. I laughed, I cried, I had to put the book DOWN because of the mouth on this man. So good.
TROPES:
College Hockey
Coaches Daughter
Cronic Illness Rep
One Night Stand
3 Spice
The way I was not expecting for this book to start out so strong?? One night stand leads to them realizing they can't be together because she's the coaches daughter. I laughed, I cried, I had to put the book DOWN because of the mouth on this man. So good.
TROPES:
College Hockey
Coaches Daughter
Cronic Illness Rep
One Night Stand
September 10, 2025
“𝑰 𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑲 𝑴𝒀 𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑨𝑳 𝑳𝑶𝑩𝑬 𝑱𝑼𝑺𝑻 𝑫𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑳𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑫. 𝑨𝑴 𝑰. 𝑪𝑹𝑬𝑾 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑳𝑶𝑾𝑨𝒀, 𝑺𝑬𝑬𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 '𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑨𝑳 𝑰𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑴𝑨𝑪𝒀 𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑨 𝑹𝑶𝑳𝑳 𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑺𝑯𝑬𝑬𝑻𝑺 𝑻𝑶 𝑴𝑨𝑲𝑬 𝑼𝑷 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑴𝒀 𝑭𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹'𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑿𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑻 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬? 𝑯𝑨𝑽𝑬 𝑰 𝑩𝑬𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑬 𝑨...𝑭𝑬𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺...𝑾𝑯*𝑹𝑬?"
I'm not going to lie...I saw the cover of this book and I was INSTANTLY drawn to it...I knew I had to read it IMMEDIATELY! And if you know me, you know I do NOT love a blonde MMC...something about a man with blonde hair just gives me the ick...BUT...Celeste Briars?? You have just given me my first blonde MMC...because I was all over this man and DOWN BAD!!! 😍😍😍
Merit is our bad a dancer FMC...she strong, feisty and full of spirit. But when a heart condition takes her out and ruins her dream of a dancing career, her light and fire is dimmed... Her parents immediately bring her back home to Minnesota to be closer to them and so she can finish school out under their supervision. This obviously feels like a death sentence to her and she treats it as such, with a last night out to enjoy some freedom before she finds herself under the control of her parents again. She finds herself in a bar and decides that a one night stand is exactly what she needs to wind down and forget everything...even if its for a night...
Crew is our hot shot, playboy hockey MMC who is on the fast track to the NHL. His life has been a series of bad blows...an absent father and a lifetime of being used by those who held close to his heart. He's got the playboy rep down, but under the facade is a man who truly just wants love and to love. His life gets turned upside down when a pint sized brunette crosses his path one night at a bar. Now this isn't exactly an abnormal occurrence...women regularly are eager to go home with him...but this woman..she has no idea who he is...and in this hockey town, thats unheard of. He can't help but be intrigued...and after a passion filled night, hes more than smitten...but shes gone by the time the sun comes up.
Things get tricky when Crew is invited to dinner at his coaches house and the fiery brunette from the bar opens the door. Thats right, Merit is his coaches daughter...and if she didn't hate him before, she definitely does now. One rule that Merit has and never breaks...no more dating hockey players...and Crew is the literal definition of everything she has been trying to avoid. Crew on the other hand? He knows his coaches daughter is off limits, but he can't help how he feels and is determined to make her see that he's not like all the other hockey boys who have broken her heart.
They get thrown together for a charity event and things get crazy...a team auction?? It's even crazier than you think...especially with Merit at the helm! All of the side characters were amazing and so funny...I loved how we got a good set up for the rest of the series and we can see different personalities peaking through.
While Crew falls first, it takes Merit a little longer to let her walls down. But, Crew is patient and doesn't push. I loved being able to see how Celeste handled and showed how family...good or bad, can have a lasting effect on their children. We get to see two very different versions of parenting and how both created negative and lasting effects on both Crew and Merit. We see how Merits parents and their helicopter parenting and overbearing tendencies really made Merit feel like she could never live up to their expectations. That fear of wanting to do what you want while being scared that you are disappointing your family. You begin to hide parts of yourself because you aren't sure that it will be accepted. Crew had the opposite. His father was absent...abandoned him. This created a sense of worthlessness in Crew...he grew up with a deep need for love an acceptance...doing what he felt he needed to do in order to get that from those around him, and that lead to some people who definitely took advantage of his caring nature...making him feel like he wasn't good enough for love or anything for that matter.
The chemistry between these two?? OFF THE CHARTS!!! Crew was a total golden retriever, but in the bedroom??? HOLY MOLY!!!! This mans mouth was FILTHY and I was EATING IT UP!! The spice was perfectly laced throughout the book and I absolutely LOVED how the characters didn't use $ex as a way to deal with issues or a time to communicate important things. It added to their connection but it wasn't their WHOLE connection, which I appreciated.
These two finding each other was kissmet in my opinion. Fate bringing them together because they needed the other and what they could offer. Crew showed Merit that despite her challenges, she could do and be anything she wanted to be and that it was ok to not always follow the path her parents set out for her. And Merit showed Crew that he was MORE than deserving of love and everything good in the world.
There was a good amount of angst and some 3rd act conflicts that for me boiled down to miscommunication which is completely understandable considering their age. They are just finishing college and this is their first time really being open to love...that all comes with a certain amount of insecurity and hesitation in any normal situation. Add into the mix these two broken souls who are navigating it all for the first time, and you find yourself giving them a little bit of grace and room to grow.
I wish we could have seen and gotten more of Crews background...his childhood, etc. It really played a big part in forming him as a person, but we only get a general overview of it. I don't know if we get more in a later book or what...but just me personally I would have loved more...I also could have easily read another 300 pages of these two so don't listen to me 😂
I'm so excited to see who comes next and to see what else this series has in store. If this first book is any indication, we are in for a wild ride and I cannot wait!!!
Thank you so much to Celeste Briars and LoveNotes PR for the incredible opportunity to ARC read this amazing book!🩷
🏒Hockey Romance
🩷College Setting
🏒Coaches Daughter
🩷One Night Stand
🏒Reformed Playboy MMC
🩷Chronically Ill FMC
🏒Hockey Player MMC
🩷Dancer FMC
🏒Emotional Rollercoaster
🩷Dislike to Lovers
🏒He Falls First
🩷Guarded MC’s
🏒Forced Proximity
🩷Banter
🏒Angst
🩷Mental Health Rep
🏒Forbidden
🩷Secret Relationship
🏒3rd Act Conflict
🩷Bad Boy x Good Girl
🏒F it Moment
🩷Dual POV
🏒HEA
I'm not going to lie...I saw the cover of this book and I was INSTANTLY drawn to it...I knew I had to read it IMMEDIATELY! And if you know me, you know I do NOT love a blonde MMC...something about a man with blonde hair just gives me the ick...BUT...Celeste Briars?? You have just given me my first blonde MMC...because I was all over this man and DOWN BAD!!! 😍😍😍
Merit is our bad a dancer FMC...she strong, feisty and full of spirit. But when a heart condition takes her out and ruins her dream of a dancing career, her light and fire is dimmed... Her parents immediately bring her back home to Minnesota to be closer to them and so she can finish school out under their supervision. This obviously feels like a death sentence to her and she treats it as such, with a last night out to enjoy some freedom before she finds herself under the control of her parents again. She finds herself in a bar and decides that a one night stand is exactly what she needs to wind down and forget everything...even if its for a night...
Crew is our hot shot, playboy hockey MMC who is on the fast track to the NHL. His life has been a series of bad blows...an absent father and a lifetime of being used by those who held close to his heart. He's got the playboy rep down, but under the facade is a man who truly just wants love and to love. His life gets turned upside down when a pint sized brunette crosses his path one night at a bar. Now this isn't exactly an abnormal occurrence...women regularly are eager to go home with him...but this woman..she has no idea who he is...and in this hockey town, thats unheard of. He can't help but be intrigued...and after a passion filled night, hes more than smitten...but shes gone by the time the sun comes up.
Things get tricky when Crew is invited to dinner at his coaches house and the fiery brunette from the bar opens the door. Thats right, Merit is his coaches daughter...and if she didn't hate him before, she definitely does now. One rule that Merit has and never breaks...no more dating hockey players...and Crew is the literal definition of everything she has been trying to avoid. Crew on the other hand? He knows his coaches daughter is off limits, but he can't help how he feels and is determined to make her see that he's not like all the other hockey boys who have broken her heart.
They get thrown together for a charity event and things get crazy...a team auction?? It's even crazier than you think...especially with Merit at the helm! All of the side characters were amazing and so funny...I loved how we got a good set up for the rest of the series and we can see different personalities peaking through.
While Crew falls first, it takes Merit a little longer to let her walls down. But, Crew is patient and doesn't push. I loved being able to see how Celeste handled and showed how family...good or bad, can have a lasting effect on their children. We get to see two very different versions of parenting and how both created negative and lasting effects on both Crew and Merit. We see how Merits parents and their helicopter parenting and overbearing tendencies really made Merit feel like she could never live up to their expectations. That fear of wanting to do what you want while being scared that you are disappointing your family. You begin to hide parts of yourself because you aren't sure that it will be accepted. Crew had the opposite. His father was absent...abandoned him. This created a sense of worthlessness in Crew...he grew up with a deep need for love an acceptance...doing what he felt he needed to do in order to get that from those around him, and that lead to some people who definitely took advantage of his caring nature...making him feel like he wasn't good enough for love or anything for that matter.
The chemistry between these two?? OFF THE CHARTS!!! Crew was a total golden retriever, but in the bedroom??? HOLY MOLY!!!! This mans mouth was FILTHY and I was EATING IT UP!! The spice was perfectly laced throughout the book and I absolutely LOVED how the characters didn't use $ex as a way to deal with issues or a time to communicate important things. It added to their connection but it wasn't their WHOLE connection, which I appreciated.
These two finding each other was kissmet in my opinion. Fate bringing them together because they needed the other and what they could offer. Crew showed Merit that despite her challenges, she could do and be anything she wanted to be and that it was ok to not always follow the path her parents set out for her. And Merit showed Crew that he was MORE than deserving of love and everything good in the world.
There was a good amount of angst and some 3rd act conflicts that for me boiled down to miscommunication which is completely understandable considering their age. They are just finishing college and this is their first time really being open to love...that all comes with a certain amount of insecurity and hesitation in any normal situation. Add into the mix these two broken souls who are navigating it all for the first time, and you find yourself giving them a little bit of grace and room to grow.
I wish we could have seen and gotten more of Crews background...his childhood, etc. It really played a big part in forming him as a person, but we only get a general overview of it. I don't know if we get more in a later book or what...but just me personally I would have loved more...I also could have easily read another 300 pages of these two so don't listen to me 😂
I'm so excited to see who comes next and to see what else this series has in store. If this first book is any indication, we are in for a wild ride and I cannot wait!!!
Thank you so much to Celeste Briars and LoveNotes PR for the incredible opportunity to ARC read this amazing book!🩷
🏒Hockey Romance
🩷College Setting
🏒Coaches Daughter
🩷One Night Stand
🏒Reformed Playboy MMC
🩷Chronically Ill FMC
🏒Hockey Player MMC
🩷Dancer FMC
🏒Emotional Rollercoaster
🩷Dislike to Lovers
🏒He Falls First
🩷Guarded MC’s
🏒Forced Proximity
🩷Banter
🏒Angst
🩷Mental Health Rep
🏒Forbidden
🩷Secret Relationship
🏒3rd Act Conflict
🩷Bad Boy x Good Girl
🏒F it Moment
🩷Dual POV
🏒HEA
September 18, 2025
I received this as an ARC from love notes PR and it was a lot of fun!
I will say I have a really hard time (sometimes) when reading about a reformed playboy who makes it soooo evident that he had slept around a lot, and that was the first impression with Crew.
If we hadn’t gotten that right off of the bat then I think this would had read a little differently to me.
I also really lived Merit, she was an FMC who was really having some hard life challenges and as a people pleaser myself I related to that portion oh her at her core.
I don’t love how her parents treated her at times like he was a doll that was going to break, because she is strong no matter what.
I would love to continue reading this series as they come out and I’m hoping we get to see more of Crew and Merit.
I will say I have a really hard time (sometimes) when reading about a reformed playboy who makes it soooo evident that he had slept around a lot, and that was the first impression with Crew.
If we hadn’t gotten that right off of the bat then I think this would had read a little differently to me.
I also really lived Merit, she was an FMC who was really having some hard life challenges and as a people pleaser myself I related to that portion oh her at her core.
I don’t love how her parents treated her at times like he was a doll that was going to break, because she is strong no matter what.
I would love to continue reading this series as they come out and I’m hoping we get to see more of Crew and Merit.
September 2, 2025
I loved this book!!
Blurb
Dancer and self-proclaimed perfectionist, Merit Lawson, has spent her whole life appeasing others, including walking away from a promising dance career. After she collapses following a heart-related incident at her old college, her helicopter parents relocate her back home to snowy Minnesota—where hockey is a religion, and the players are gods. Merit wants one last night of freedom before she’s thrown into a maelstrom of inflated egos and bad decisions, even if that means becoming a hookup culture statistic.
NHL-bound hockey player, Crew Calloway, yearns to be seen for who he is, rather than his flashy accomplishments or playboy reputation. With a deadbeat dad and a roster of manipulative exes, it’s going to take a lot to crumble his defenses. However, unexpected sparks fly when he meets one fiery, pint-sized brunette at the bar who seems to be the only girl who doesn’t know his name. Before long, they’re back at his place executing the perfect hat trick—sans clothes. But just as Crew thinks he’s found his match, she disappears the next morning.
When Crew gets a dinner invite from his coach, he doesn’t expect his blast from a not-so-distant past to answer the door. Merit has a personal vendetta against the hockey player species, and Crew knows that dating the coach’s daughter would end his career, but neither of them can deny the unbidden hunger they share. Now, growing closer than ever after being assigned to the same fundraiser committee, their hormones will be the least of their worries if Merit’s father finds out about their not-so-platonic relationship.
Will Crew and Merit fold under the pressures of the outside world, or will love finally be in the cards for two romantically challenged souls?
Lovesick is a heart-warming college hockey romance featuring a bad boy hockey captain with a thirst for trouble, a good girl dancer who’s determined to stay away from him, a fundraiser of epic proportions, spice hot enough to make you question your religious values, and a chance at love between two star-crossed lovers. It’s the first book in a series but can be read as a standalone.
Blurb
Dancer and self-proclaimed perfectionist, Merit Lawson, has spent her whole life appeasing others, including walking away from a promising dance career. After she collapses following a heart-related incident at her old college, her helicopter parents relocate her back home to snowy Minnesota—where hockey is a religion, and the players are gods. Merit wants one last night of freedom before she’s thrown into a maelstrom of inflated egos and bad decisions, even if that means becoming a hookup culture statistic.
NHL-bound hockey player, Crew Calloway, yearns to be seen for who he is, rather than his flashy accomplishments or playboy reputation. With a deadbeat dad and a roster of manipulative exes, it’s going to take a lot to crumble his defenses. However, unexpected sparks fly when he meets one fiery, pint-sized brunette at the bar who seems to be the only girl who doesn’t know his name. Before long, they’re back at his place executing the perfect hat trick—sans clothes. But just as Crew thinks he’s found his match, she disappears the next morning.
When Crew gets a dinner invite from his coach, he doesn’t expect his blast from a not-so-distant past to answer the door. Merit has a personal vendetta against the hockey player species, and Crew knows that dating the coach’s daughter would end his career, but neither of them can deny the unbidden hunger they share. Now, growing closer than ever after being assigned to the same fundraiser committee, their hormones will be the least of their worries if Merit’s father finds out about their not-so-platonic relationship.
Will Crew and Merit fold under the pressures of the outside world, or will love finally be in the cards for two romantically challenged souls?
Lovesick is a heart-warming college hockey romance featuring a bad boy hockey captain with a thirst for trouble, a good girl dancer who’s determined to stay away from him, a fundraiser of epic proportions, spice hot enough to make you question your religious values, and a chance at love between two star-crossed lovers. It’s the first book in a series but can be read as a standalone.
September 9, 2025
Celeste Briars does not waste any of time absorbing us in Merit Lawson's life, a dancer with a bright future until her body betrays her and everything she has worked for collapses on stage! The torture is plain from the start, Merit's forced return to Minnesota feels more like a cage closing in on her, her helicopter parents hovering overhead, her hopes shattered, opposed of giving up in defeat, she wants one more night of freedom in a reckless attempt at control, so the Author brings our MMC Crew Calloway, a cocky, intriguing, and devastatingly off-limits, and that night is transformed from anonymous to heated, electric, and unforgettable, Celeste's spice is one of the best hockey spice!!!
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The Author Celeste Briars' writing is magnificent in how gently she follows the fine line between recklessness and yearning, making each little detail and cutting remark feel like a flint strike!!! Celeste creates Crew with intelligence and finesse, a guy eager to be recognised for who he is rather than the headlines published about him, his first encounter with Merit, a girl who does not know his name, pierces through his defenses, she levels him, dismantles him, and leaves him yearning more before he realises how much he wants her, their love was mind-blowing in the level that I couldn't even breathe, Goood knows what the Author has put in the lines of their love because my heart was flowing blood fast like a waterfall!
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The spice merits its own standing ovation. Celeste Briars writes sensuality with energy and tenderness, timing each scene so that it enhances flavour, the chemistry between Merit and Crew is powerful, but it's also sweet, humorous, and bursting with vulnerability, making their love feel deserved! Crew worships Merit with a lover's patience and a sinner's mouth, and Merit, notwithstanding her reservations, meets him with equal fervor, bratty, gentle, daring, and undone. They're a fantastic couple who make you laugh at their banter, cry at their near-misses, and melt when they finally let themselves love without fear, this was one of the best hockey romance I've read this Year and having read all of Celeste's works, this is hands down her finest prose!!!
.
The Author Celeste Briars' writing is magnificent in how gently she follows the fine line between recklessness and yearning, making each little detail and cutting remark feel like a flint strike!!! Celeste creates Crew with intelligence and finesse, a guy eager to be recognised for who he is rather than the headlines published about him, his first encounter with Merit, a girl who does not know his name, pierces through his defenses, she levels him, dismantles him, and leaves him yearning more before he realises how much he wants her, their love was mind-blowing in the level that I couldn't even breathe, Goood knows what the Author has put in the lines of their love because my heart was flowing blood fast like a waterfall!
.
The spice merits its own standing ovation. Celeste Briars writes sensuality with energy and tenderness, timing each scene so that it enhances flavour, the chemistry between Merit and Crew is powerful, but it's also sweet, humorous, and bursting with vulnerability, making their love feel deserved! Crew worships Merit with a lover's patience and a sinner's mouth, and Merit, notwithstanding her reservations, meets him with equal fervor, bratty, gentle, daring, and undone. They're a fantastic couple who make you laugh at their banter, cry at their near-misses, and melt when they finally let themselves love without fear, this was one of the best hockey romance I've read this Year and having read all of Celeste's works, this is hands down her finest prose!!!
September 4, 2025
Lovesick is a hockey, forbidden romance that will take you a rollercoaster of emotions. The main characters are Merit and Crew. Merit is a former dancer and Crew is the hockey captain. They are both likeable and relatable. The banter and chemistry is there from the from the moment that they meet. I would say that this book is broken in to parts. First part is fun, laughable parts, watching Crew and Merit relationship grows. Then the second part the emotions start to pick up, there are still funny moments, adorable moments, happening. The third part the emotions are high, the feeling of unknown, the tears will start falling, and Crew and Merit relationship hits a breaking point.
The writing and pace of the story was good. From the first page you are hooked into the story. As you get into the story find yourself invested in Merit and Crew. Not only as couple but as individuals. How the each are going to handle to situations that are dealing with. The steamy scenes were well written and not over the top. Also the steamy scenes didn’t over take the story . Overall, Lovesick is good hockey, forbidden romance. The main characters are great. Once you start you will be taken on this emotional rollercoaster rider all the way to end.
The writing and pace of the story was good. From the first page you are hooked into the story. As you get into the story find yourself invested in Merit and Crew. Not only as couple but as individuals. How the each are going to handle to situations that are dealing with. The steamy scenes were well written and not over the top. Also the steamy scenes didn’t over take the story . Overall, Lovesick is good hockey, forbidden romance. The main characters are great. Once you start you will be taken on this emotional rollercoaster rider all the way to end.
September 15, 2025
Review of Lovesick by Celeste Briars
If you’re a fan of hockey romances, Lovesick is definitely one to add to your list. Celeste Briars does a great job of letting you really get to know the characters, and the relationship between the hockey player and the dancer feels authentic and endearing. It’s a cute, enjoyable romance that leans into the familiar tropes we all know and love.
I’ll admit, this isn’t the most groundbreaking hockey romance out there. It follows a storyline similar to books like Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. But that’s also part of the charm. Sometimes you just want a story that delivers exactly what you expect, and Lovesick does that really well.
While I didn’t fly through the first half (mostly because of timing on my end), I read the last 50% in a single sitting, which says a lot about how engaging the story became. It kept me invested until the end, and I genuinely enjoyed the ride.
Overall, I’d give it 4 stars. It may not be wildly original, but it’s a solid, underrated hockey romance that deserves more attention. If you enjoy this trope, you’ll almost certainly have fun with Lovesick.
If you’re a fan of hockey romances, Lovesick is definitely one to add to your list. Celeste Briars does a great job of letting you really get to know the characters, and the relationship between the hockey player and the dancer feels authentic and endearing. It’s a cute, enjoyable romance that leans into the familiar tropes we all know and love.
I’ll admit, this isn’t the most groundbreaking hockey romance out there. It follows a storyline similar to books like Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. But that’s also part of the charm. Sometimes you just want a story that delivers exactly what you expect, and Lovesick does that really well.
While I didn’t fly through the first half (mostly because of timing on my end), I read the last 50% in a single sitting, which says a lot about how engaging the story became. It kept me invested until the end, and I genuinely enjoyed the ride.
Overall, I’d give it 4 stars. It may not be wildly original, but it’s a solid, underrated hockey romance that deserves more attention. If you enjoy this trope, you’ll almost certainly have fun with Lovesick.
August 13, 2025
I received this book as an ARC from LoveNotesPR and I'm so grateful for it.
I LOVED the Riverside Reapers series and I can honestly say this book has filled the hole that they left. I must admit it's not my favourite booked at Celeste has written but it is up in my top 3. That being said I did read this book in less than a day and if that doesn't tell you how addictive Celeste's writing is I don't know what will.
Crew may just be one of my favourite book boyfriends this month - a man that knows what he wants and goes after it, uses things he learnt in therapy in real life and has a filthy mouth - I don't think you can ask for much more. You can never go wrong with a few open door smut scenes and this book did not disappoint!
The FMC Merit did annoy me slightly with her lack of awareness for other peoples feelings and lives as well as her inability to act like an adult sometimes in her responses, but I really enjoyed her relationship with Crew and the chemistry between them.
I also really enjoyed the outside friendships in this book it reminded me of the Riverside Reapers which leads me to hope that there are going to be books for each of them coming next!
I will be rereading this again in the next couple of weeks just because you can't go wrong with a good romance.
Thank you LOVENOTESPR for the opportunity to read this early and if you haven't already read this then it'll be available on the 4th of September 2025!
I LOVED the Riverside Reapers series and I can honestly say this book has filled the hole that they left. I must admit it's not my favourite booked at Celeste has written but it is up in my top 3. That being said I did read this book in less than a day and if that doesn't tell you how addictive Celeste's writing is I don't know what will.
Crew may just be one of my favourite book boyfriends this month - a man that knows what he wants and goes after it, uses things he learnt in therapy in real life and has a filthy mouth - I don't think you can ask for much more. You can never go wrong with a few open door smut scenes and this book did not disappoint!
The FMC Merit did annoy me slightly with her lack of awareness for other peoples feelings and lives as well as her inability to act like an adult sometimes in her responses, but I really enjoyed her relationship with Crew and the chemistry between them.
I also really enjoyed the outside friendships in this book it reminded me of the Riverside Reapers which leads me to hope that there are going to be books for each of them coming next!
I will be rereading this again in the next couple of weeks just because you can't go wrong with a good romance.
Thank you LOVENOTESPR for the opportunity to read this early and if you haven't already read this then it'll be available on the 4th of September 2025!
September 14, 2025
It was supposed to be just a one-night stand between Merit and Crew, but she didn't expect for him to be one of her dad's hockey stars.
When she has to plan a fundraiser with the hockey team, they're forced to work together. They can't ignore the tension between them anymore.
They fall in love but Merit is so scared to tell her dad that they have to keep their relationship a secret.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Dancer x Hockey Captain
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 Forbidden Love
Favorite quotes:
✨ "– You're bad for me.
– We can be bad for each other."
✨ "When I peer over the windowsill, my gaze homes in on a proportionally small Crew waving his arms above his head frantically. He's absolutely waterlogged, sacrificing his dry clothes and all- around comfort to Romeo and Juliet me."
✨ "She's my North Star, and that scarlet-tipped needle inside me will always point toward her. Toward home."
When she has to plan a fundraiser with the hockey team, they're forced to work together. They can't ignore the tension between them anymore.
They fall in love but Merit is so scared to tell her dad that they have to keep their relationship a secret.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Dancer x Hockey Captain
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 Forbidden Love
Favorite quotes:
✨ "– You're bad for me.
– We can be bad for each other."
✨ "When I peer over the windowsill, my gaze homes in on a proportionally small Crew waving his arms above his head frantically. He's absolutely waterlogged, sacrificing his dry clothes and all- around comfort to Romeo and Juliet me."
✨ "She's my North Star, and that scarlet-tipped needle inside me will always point toward her. Toward home."
September 4, 2025
Merit has a dance career in front of her, and Crew has an NHL future in the cards.
When Merit collapses from a heart scare, her parents move her back home, and she is determined to have her one day of freedom, and crosses paths with Crew in a bar. When Crew is invited to his coach’s house for dinner, he finds out that his 1-night stand is his coach’s daughter.
This is a well written emotional roller coaster story, with family, friendships, good girl / bad boy, opposites attract, forced proximity, off limits romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and heartwarming, collage hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend.
When Merit collapses from a heart scare, her parents move her back home, and she is determined to have her one day of freedom, and crosses paths with Crew in a bar. When Crew is invited to his coach’s house for dinner, he finds out that his 1-night stand is his coach’s daughter.
This is a well written emotional roller coaster story, with family, friendships, good girl / bad boy, opposites attract, forced proximity, off limits romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and heartwarming, collage hockey romance.
I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend.
August 20, 2025
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the gifted arc💗
I absolutely loved this book. For my first time reading a book by Celeste Briars I didn’t know what to expect but it definitely didn’t disappoint. It was a fast paced novel with great characters, great character development, had a really good story with some spice, made me laugh and it was a really great read. I loved the main characters Merit and Crew. Crew was down bad for Merit and was such a golden retriever mmc and Merit was a great fmc. I cannot wait until book 2 comes out and I definitely will be reading more by this author. Overall I gave this a 4.25⭐️
Lovesick by Celeste Briars is available to read and buy on the 4th of September 2025💌
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey Romance
📚 College Romance
🪩 Dancer x Hockey Captain
🥰 Coach's Daughter
🧡 Forced Proximity
🌶️ Spicy
I absolutely loved this book. For my first time reading a book by Celeste Briars I didn’t know what to expect but it definitely didn’t disappoint. It was a fast paced novel with great characters, great character development, had a really good story with some spice, made me laugh and it was a really great read. I loved the main characters Merit and Crew. Crew was down bad for Merit and was such a golden retriever mmc and Merit was a great fmc. I cannot wait until book 2 comes out and I definitely will be reading more by this author. Overall I gave this a 4.25⭐️
Lovesick by Celeste Briars is available to read and buy on the 4th of September 2025💌
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey Romance
📚 College Romance
🪩 Dancer x Hockey Captain
🥰 Coach's Daughter
🧡 Forced Proximity
🌶️ Spicy
August 29, 2025
What I loved most about Lovesick was how much heart this story carried. It wasn’t just a sports romance full of banter and chemistry (though there’s plenty of that!) , it had emotional depth that made the characters feel so real. The struggles, the vulnerability, and the tender moments gave the romance a weight that kept me hooked from beginning to end. 💕
And then there’s the mmc … 🥰 I absolutely adored how he was practically obsessed with her from the very beginning. The way he looked at her, supported her, and made it so clear she was his whole world had me swooning non-stop. It made their romance feel not only believable, but downright addictive.
The fiery heroine and hockey player hero had undeniable chemistry, full of push and pull tension, playful banter, and moments that made me melt. Celeste Briars struck the perfect balance between steamy, fun, and heartfelt, and it left me completely invested in their love story.
If you love:
🏒 Sports romance
💔 Emotional depth alongside the swoon
🔥 A hero obsessed (in the best way!)
💖 Banter and undeniable chemistry
…then this one deserves a spot on your TBR immediately. Lovesick releases on September 4th, and I can already tell The Minnesota Mustangs Series is going to be a must-read for hockey romance lovers!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
And then there’s the mmc … 🥰 I absolutely adored how he was practically obsessed with her from the very beginning. The way he looked at her, supported her, and made it so clear she was his whole world had me swooning non-stop. It made their romance feel not only believable, but downright addictive.
The fiery heroine and hockey player hero had undeniable chemistry, full of push and pull tension, playful banter, and moments that made me melt. Celeste Briars struck the perfect balance between steamy, fun, and heartfelt, and it left me completely invested in their love story.
If you love:
🏒 Sports romance
💔 Emotional depth alongside the swoon
🔥 A hero obsessed (in the best way!)
💖 Banter and undeniable chemistry
…then this one deserves a spot on your TBR immediately. Lovesick releases on September 4th, and I can already tell The Minnesota Mustangs Series is going to be a must-read for hockey romance lovers!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
September 10, 2025
ARC Review - Lovesick 🩷
Oh my freaking God !! It was my first ever Bad boy X good girl trope and can I say I freaking loved it 😀 . It's a new thing for me now .
So we have Merit (The FMC) who is coach's daughter and hates hockey 🏑 and Crew ( The MMC) who is a hockey player and a bad boy 👿 .
It was a one-time thing which turned out to be forever. Dive into the world of sports romance and see what happens next when opposite collides .
Final verdict - I'm in love with crew and I think it's a valid reason because he is kinda hot 🥵 ( go and read the book 💗)
Rating - 4.5/5 ⭐
Oh my freaking God !! It was my first ever Bad boy X good girl trope and can I say I freaking loved it 😀 . It's a new thing for me now .
So we have Merit (The FMC) who is coach's daughter and hates hockey 🏑 and Crew ( The MMC) who is a hockey player and a bad boy 👿 .
It was a one-time thing which turned out to be forever. Dive into the world of sports romance and see what happens next when opposite collides .
Final verdict - I'm in love with crew and I think it's a valid reason because he is kinda hot 🥵 ( go and read the book 💗)
Rating - 4.5/5 ⭐
September 11, 2025
ARC review
A cute ice hockey romance! I enjoyed the story and the characters, and Merit and Crew’s romance was sweet and fun to follow.
That said, I did miss a few things, like seeing more of Merit’s dancing and Crew’s relationship with his mom, which left me wanting just a little more depth.
Still, this was a fun and easy read!
A cute ice hockey romance! I enjoyed the story and the characters, and Merit and Crew’s romance was sweet and fun to follow.
That said, I did miss a few things, like seeing more of Merit’s dancing and Crew’s relationship with his mom, which left me wanting just a little more depth.
Still, this was a fun and easy read!
September 12, 2025
While there were things I definitely didn’t love in this one (the parents involvement made me twitchy) for the most part this one was just what I needed. I’m so much like Merit it was scary at parts. I highlighted so much in this book and had the best time reading it.
January 7, 2026
This was SUCH a cute book and had me hooked. Then it just got super descriptive and the inner monologue had the characters acting like they were in a poetry class. It was so weird. I would gung ho on giving it 5 stars then I started noticing the inner monologue and couldn’t stop seeing it.
January 30, 2026
I'm not one usually to write nasty reviews, but this book's particular bad writing has me completely stunned.
I am not going to deep dive into its shortcomings, but suffice it to say that it reads like someone's multiple fantasies came alive on paper. Not good, chaotic, all over the place.
I am not going to deep dive into its shortcomings, but suffice it to say that it reads like someone's multiple fantasies came alive on paper. Not good, chaotic, all over the place.
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