Offside with My Bully

by Gaia Tate

Losing the championship sucks. Getting stuck at the same off-season resort with my bully is even worse...

When our cabin gets trashed by the rival team, we hit back. One reckless break-in. One stolen trophy. And suddenly I’m trapped in a bedroom with my personal bully and sworn enemy, Sebastian Walsh. With no backup, no exit, and a knife to my throat...

Offside with My Bully is a 25k-word MM romance novella featuring the following themes /
🔥 Bully romance
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Hockey / sports romance
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Witty banter
🔥 Scorching passion

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Hockey, Sports Romance, Queer, Short Stories

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2025

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm, probably my least fav novella of the author so far!

The suspension of disbelief here was a bit much (like, no way those guys are supposed to be in their thirties?!) and the enemies part was a lot too. If you make one character truly horrible then it’s a bit harder to get how he’s been in love with the other one this whole time. You know? And to go from ‘I don’t respect you and hate you with everything I have’ to ‘I’m so gone for you’ in like A DAY is… yeah.

This would have worked really well as a full length book (especially because I loved the setting!), but not so much as a novella.

But it was still hot and nice and like always the cover SPEAKS TO ME, so 3 stars I guess.

[Moraa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

RTC

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this but I just hate the way it ended. It was left so wide open it was unsatisfying. I needed an epilogue or something. I really want this to be a full length book, along with an entire series because I want to read more about the secondary characters. This was foo fast, I didn’t want it to end!!!! Please give us more!!!!

No cheating or op drama. No break up. We think it’s internalize homophobia but it’s really just Sebastian wanting Roman’s attention, very HFN.

[Salad Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[JJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this but couldn’t. I found it hard to pass through the juvenile trashing (apparently they are 30 years old?!) and homophobic behaviours that were kind of brushed under the carpet. It’s a short novella so there wasn’t much room for lengthy arcs but it still was badly handled.

Sebastian, the bully, was just awful, that he secretly pinned for Roman wasn’t enough justification for his vile actions towards him. Worst was what he did in the story: casually suggesting that Roman tried to sexually assault him (which wasn’t the cause but he wanted to see people’s reaction and was later surprised that it was taken seriously, like wtf?!), that was a line crossed too far. Never falsely accuse anyone of attempting rape, that’s so fucking wrong!

Tbh, Roman was a bit of spineless pushover. How he managed to bypass all Sebastion’s bs and somehow even find he had feelings for that asshole, I have no idea. Few tears and he was a goner, really unbelievable. Sebastian had not grovelled anywhere near enough.

Spice was decent, shame about the overall story.

[iz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sexy and entertaining! Even though it was a short read, it could deliver satisfyingly. My favorite part of this book was when Sebastian told Roman his true feelings, and Sebastian got instantly softer, cuter and vulnerable–in retrospect of his behavior at the beginning.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Roman Blake and Sebastian Walsh. These two hockey players have been rivals for the past four years. Each are the captain of their respective team. Roman for team Glacier Saints and Sebastian for team Redside Wraiths. But Roman feels that Sebastian's behaviour goes past normal on ice chirping. It feels like bullying to him. Add in that Sebastian started right around the time that Roman came out as a gay player. Well you do the math. Roman certainly has. Unexpectedly both teams end up at the same winter resort. Team Redside Wraith ends up pulling a prank on Team Glacier Saint's cabin that has a distinctly homophobic overtone. Instead of letting the powers that be deal with the attack, Roman and his team do a raid to steal the cup that Team Wraith won by beating them. As we all know, there is no winners in a prank war. A lesson that is taught to them by their respective coaches. Threatened with disqualification if things continue as they are, the coaches come up with the plan to solve things. They make pairs up to help with the manual labor needed at the resort. One Wraith and One Saint. Any fights, arguments or complaints; the players involved will be suspended indefinitely. Of course, they assign the two captains to work together for the next three days. They will either find common ground or get themselves disqualified. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. I enjoyed learning about Roman's teammates. A great quick read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your life is plagued by one particular bully it can cause you to lose perspective. It is perhaps not surprising that Roman hates Sebastian. Both are hockey captains, on opposing teams and Roman's team lost the championship to them this year. Now they are all on a retreat, in the same place. When Roman and his friends leave their chalet for a few hours, coming back to find it trashed and not in a nice way at all, they know immediately who the culprits are and plan their revenge.

When the revenge goes sideways the coaches have a plan, they will punish both teams, force them to pair up and support the resort staff doing some much-needed maintenance around the site for the next couple of days. Six of them may be going to the same place to help out but somehow Roman and Seb are paired. This is going to be a nightmare. At first it is. Then things happen, conversations are had, thoughts and feelings are exchanged, complete with apologies.

With brilliant banter, hurt-comfort, hockey and the hottest passion which I am surprised didn't melt all the snow, this is a highly addictive, brilliantly written romance.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read just about every standalone story by this author and I have loved each one. This one is about 2 hockey players who have been rivals for about 4 years. They are each the captain of their respective team. For one of the MCs, Roman, though, the typical on-ice shenanigans perpetuated by the other team captain Sebastian has felt more like bullying than anything else - bullying because Roman is an out and proud hockey player. At a team retreat where the rival team also happens to be, both teams prank each other and this results in punishments by the Coaches. The forced proximity brings certain truths out in the open and the heat index goes up up up! Enjoyed this very much and was very touch by the emotions in some places too. Great palate cleanser between novels :)

I received a complimentary copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Good world building and wonderful characters. I loved Roman. Sebastian pissed me off, but the hints of vulnerability intrigued me. Until something happens that changes everything. I loved how they talked and seeing a new side to Sebastian. Hearing him speak his truth since the whole story is from Roman's POV. I liked the plan of the two teams being paired off and forced to work together under threat of disqualification. I kind of hope for other teammates to get their own stories because some of them grew on me. This was a fun romance that turned surprisingly sweet. The chemistry between Roman and Sebastian was scorching and where the story ended I wish there was a little more. I want to see Roman take Sebastian out on a date, want to see them tell the team- and the world- that they are together. Sequel please? 5 stars

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶

This short story was really good. It left me wanting more, a lot more! I could honestly read a whole book about these two. This is a fast paced enemies to lovers, bully/rivals, hockey romance that is short, spicy, and full of banter. Roman&Sebastian were so cute when they finally gave in and realized they didn't hate each other but in fact we're attracted to one another. Poor Sebastian just didn't know how to express his feelings. Rome thought Sebastian hated him but really Sebastian loved Rome all along and didn't know how to tell him. I really enjoyed reading this, I just wished it was longer. Definitely left me wanting more of Sebastian&Rome.
😍😈🏒🥵

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this enemies to lovers short story, Roman and Sebastian were both good characters and their teammates added to the drama of the story but it was easy to relate with Sebastian even though he hadn’t handled his feelings for Roman well, I think you could tell from the story that there was a connection of some sort between them which easily became apparent when they finally spoke about what they were feeling. Good read but would have liked an epilogue of them further into the relationship but overall a good short read.

[Hira Chaudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this to be SO. MUCH. LONGER. I needed to spend more time on Sebastian and his confession and the way he's had to hide in the closet this whole time and how he thought he was FLIRTING with Roman and Roman took it as HOSTILITY. I didn't think I was going to like this one with the way it started, but Sebastian really won me over. He was reminding me of Warner from Shatter Me, and the way we learn more about why he is the way he is as the series continues. So I would have liked to spend more time with Sebastian and getting to know how he became this way. Because also, the way he became so sweet and open and soft after he came out to Roman was kind of adorable and amazing!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rome and Sebastian are rivals on hockey teams. Sebastian has always bullied Rome and something snaps. When they are forced to work together, the desire breaks through. This novella was steamy and well written - the words just flow. As my first time reading this author, I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to more by them. I received a copy of this through BookSprout and this is my voluntary opinion.

[ViVi · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐/5

What I liked:
✔️The setting of the story, I love anything that has snowy/wintery vibes
✔️The characters/romance, especially when Sebastian stopped being a dick

What I didn't like:
✖️The bullying (maybe it's my own fault for picking up a bully romance but whatevs), it just really triggers me and would probably enjoyed the story more if it was more like teasing/poking fun between the characters
✖️Grown men acting like teenagers

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offside with My Bully is about Roman and Sebastian who are enemies and captains of their teams. They are at team retreat and then some pranks don’t go well so their coaches start team-building exercises.

I liked the story, is quick read and I kinda want to know why Sam doesn’t like Ivan.

—————————————————————————-
I received a copy of this book, and this is my honest review

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This totally would’ve gotten four stars, even five if it would’ve been more fleshed out and longer. I really liked all the characters but definitely wanted more world building and just a lot more story. I was really disappointed in the ending. It was so open ended. I would love to see this as a full length novel, possibly even a series. Maybe the other guys get stories too!

[Maryroms · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book, I get why people might not like it as it is really fast, but I’m a sucker for insta love so 10/10 🤣
My only problem with it and actually all short stories from Gaia Tate is that I just want them to be longer 🥲, I would read a 10 book series from these 2, anyways, still worth reading it!

[Reading With April · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I thought this was just okay. I know this is just a quick book so things have to happen super fast, but they literally went from 0 to 100 in one chapter. Then when I first started it it seemed they were maybe in their early 20's, only to find out they were like 30 and I definitely didn't get that vibe with their maturity levels.
Spice was decent though.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how punishment detail finally gets Sebastian and Roman together after they talk. Sebastian's actions over the last years were misunderstood by Roman.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice read but frustrating at times. These hockey stories are becoming quite popular now, the tension, the resentment, the secrecy, the hidden feelings, all makes a fantastic story. This one has all that but in a abbreviated version and a rather unsatisfying ending.

[Syd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo I kind of loved this. Wish it was longer!

[Leviakant · Rating 4 out of 5]

It works well as a short novel or story, sometimes I feel like they make things too long just to add pages. In this case it does not decorate, it is beautiful as it is.

[Keith OByrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story

I enjoyed the storyline and characters. It felt quite realistic. Would definitely read more by this author. Hope you enjoy it too!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

3.75