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How We End
Wyatt Cassidy Halliday knows exactly what desire costs.
At thirty-five, the high-end escort has built a life beneath the neon lights of Las Vegas—one she’s sure is running out of ways to love her back. Survival has become performance, routine, armor. But even armor wears thin.
Julian Silver was supposed to have it all. Fame, fortune, and a career most athletes only dream of. Instead, at thirty-four, the star winger for the Las Vegas Desert Coyotes is falling apart in real time—injuries, pressure, and the quiet fear that he’s already seen his last great moment.
They meet on a night meant to mean nothing.
A transaction.
A temporary escape.
But connection has a way of slipping in sideways, and what should have been one night becomes something neither of them planned for—and neither quite knows how to hold.
As the life Wyatt has built collides with the future Julian is fighting for, both are forced to confront the same wanting more is terrifying when you’ve convinced yourself you don’t deserve it. Love doesn’t come without sacrifice…and some sacrifices change everything.
Gritty, tender, and deeply human, How We End is an emotional, character-driven romance about two people in their mid-thirties learning to trust the kind of love that doesn’t rush, doesn’t pretend, and doesn’t let them hide.
What you’ll find
- emotional, character-driven romance
- age-gap (35/34)
- hockey player MMC
- high-end escort FMC
- strangers-to-something-more
- slow-burn intensity
- spice that’s intimate, not explicit
- real-life stakes + zero melodrama
- Las Vegas at its most beautifully gritty
For readers who
– quiet, heavy, hopeful romance
– flawed characters finding their way
– “sad but hot” chemistry
– mature love stories
– realistic emotional stakes set against a vivid city backdrop
Content guidance available on the author's website.
At thirty-five, the high-end escort has built a life beneath the neon lights of Las Vegas—one she’s sure is running out of ways to love her back. Survival has become performance, routine, armor. But even armor wears thin.
Julian Silver was supposed to have it all. Fame, fortune, and a career most athletes only dream of. Instead, at thirty-four, the star winger for the Las Vegas Desert Coyotes is falling apart in real time—injuries, pressure, and the quiet fear that he’s already seen his last great moment.
They meet on a night meant to mean nothing.
A transaction.
A temporary escape.
But connection has a way of slipping in sideways, and what should have been one night becomes something neither of them planned for—and neither quite knows how to hold.
As the life Wyatt has built collides with the future Julian is fighting for, both are forced to confront the same wanting more is terrifying when you’ve convinced yourself you don’t deserve it. Love doesn’t come without sacrifice…and some sacrifices change everything.
Gritty, tender, and deeply human, How We End is an emotional, character-driven romance about two people in their mid-thirties learning to trust the kind of love that doesn’t rush, doesn’t pretend, and doesn’t let them hide.
What you’ll find
- emotional, character-driven romance
- age-gap (35/34)
- hockey player MMC
- high-end escort FMC
- strangers-to-something-more
- slow-burn intensity
- spice that’s intimate, not explicit
- real-life stakes + zero melodrama
- Las Vegas at its most beautifully gritty
For readers who
– quiet, heavy, hopeful romance
– flawed characters finding their way
– “sad but hot” chemistry
– mature love stories
– realistic emotional stakes set against a vivid city backdrop
Content guidance available on the author's website.
- GenresRomance
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2025
3 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Naatz
5 books40 followersOriginally from a small town in northern Minnesota Melissa now splits her time between the bright lights of Las Vegas Nevada and the Central Coast of California. Before she gave it all up to chase this crazy publication career she worked as a paralegal and a victim advocate.
Melissa is the author of three books. One Summer Knight, The Things We Break and The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon.
Melissa is the author of three books. One Summer Knight, The Things We Break and The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 22, 2025
I am absolutely blown away by this book. How We End was everything I love about romance, heartwarming, emotional, and so beautifully written that it honestly left me a little speechless. Every book I’ve read from this author has been a 5-star, and this one just proves again how amazing her writing is.
Wyatt and Julian’s story completely stole my heart. Both of them are carrying so much hurt and baggage, and yet the way they slowly learn to trust, open up, and let themselves fall in love was just… perfection. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t neat, but it felt so raw and real, which made their journey together even more powerful.
What stood out to me most was how deeply the author captured emotion you can feel the pain, the longing, the vulnerability, and the healing with every page. It’s a romance that reminds you love is not just about passion but about choosing to show up, again and again, even when it’s hard.
This book was just beautiful. I laughed, I teared up, I swooned, and by the end I didn’t want to let go of these characters. Truly an excellent read. If you’re looking for a story that will tug on your heartstrings and remind you why we love romance in the first place, How We End is it. A big thanks to the author for the gifted arc.
November 7, 2025
How We End is the first book I’ve read by Melissa Naatz and book one of her new series. I went in blind, choosing this ARC for the cover art alone, and imagine how stoked I was to find out our MMC, Julian, is a hockey player, whoop-whoop! As the Dowager Dutchess of the hockey trope, I’ve read so many they can begin to feel like there is a cookie cutter formula for writing one and start to sound redundant to a reader who consumes so many. Color me impressed with a fresh storyline, with some Pretty Woman vibes. Wyatt, or Cassidy to her clients has been a high end escort since she was 18 and she’s feeling every year of it, until she takes on Julian as a client to help his game. Of course the attraction was instant, but the evolution of their story unfolded in perfect pacing. Didn’t feel instalove but also happened over a period of a few months. We meet a few of her clients, some just wanting to keep Wyatt a kept woman, and learn more about her family and her past which led to this life. Cassidy wasn’t a bad person, she made choices that led her to where she was in life, but she was caring to her detriment. I really loved both mc’s and the secondary characters. Will be fun to read more about the team and their antics.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, these opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, these opinions are my own.
October 28, 2025
Another emotional read from Melissa that I devoured. Just like her previous books, this one is filled with real emotion, characters with depth, and real struggles, and it will pull you in. I managed to make it through this one without crying but it was close.
Vibes
Hockey Player & Escort
Older Mcs
Age/Identity/professional struggles
Vegas Setting
Thank you Melissa Naatz for letting me arc read another one of your amazing books.
Vibes
Hockey Player & Escort
Older Mcs
Age/Identity/professional struggles
Vegas Setting
Thank you Melissa Naatz for letting me arc read another one of your amazing books.
October 30, 2025
4.25 star
Thank you Melissa for this physical arc copy. Absolutely stunning. I really enjoyed this book.
Hockey romance, escort, vegas, dual pov.. basically ate it up in 2 days. More mature content, older FMC/MMC in their 30s which was refreshing and felt more realistic. I kept picturing a movie in my head while reading it, and I was gagged at the chokehold this book had on me.
A bit of an abrupt ending, which had me shocked and a bit frantic. But overall a great read!!
Thank you Melissa for this physical arc copy. Absolutely stunning. I really enjoyed this book.
Hockey romance, escort, vegas, dual pov.. basically ate it up in 2 days. More mature content, older FMC/MMC in their 30s which was refreshing and felt more realistic. I kept picturing a movie in my head while reading it, and I was gagged at the chokehold this book had on me.
A bit of an abrupt ending, which had me shocked and a bit frantic. But overall a great read!!
October 19, 2025
This is how we break - and how we mend.
In the quiet aftermath of love and loss, Wyatt learns that endings aren't always the opposite of beginnings - they're how we become who we are.
---
"So cheers to being fucked by men in suits."
📖 I love that this book asks those willing to have an open mind to look at sex work in a different light - from a different perspective. Julian, the MMC, is a 35 year old pro hockey player whose body has been through it in this very physically demanding, sometimes violent, sport. He's paid quite handsomely for his efforts, for the damage/wear and tear to his body - Julian points out that what he does isn't entirely different from sex work. He's paid by a man in a suit to submit his body for physical use, which sometimes veers into abuse. It isn't exactly the same, but nor is it entirely different. And that made me really think about how we view sex work, when other's do similar (so much more similar) and yet, generally, that get a lot more respect. Or at least less direct disrespect, disdain, and derision.
"But time is a ruthless dealer..."
Beautifully ties together the theme of endings and endings' inevitablity. We're in Vegas and have time personified as a dealer (evoking gambling, risk, chance, etc). Wyatt (FMC) feels her "value" is diminishing due to her age because her sense of self-worth is tied to external factors like beauty, youth, and transactional survival.
This book examines a relationship that originated as merely a transaction, and explores how they could transition from that to a genuine, deep relationship.
Maybe I'm overthinking it but I feel like the setting being Vegas is symbolic. Vegas littered with neon lights - bright, artificial lights, there's always a spectacle, and its transient population. Vegas is know for quick wins, quicker losses, and illusions. This mirrors Wyatt's life of survival as a high end escort in that things may be shiny on the exterior but they're finite, expendable, and disposable.
✍🏼 Clearly and thoughtfully written, How We End doesn't shy away from difficult topics. Things are described well to set the scene, tone, etc - without excess adjectives to wade through. The dialogue reads smoothly and fitting for the characters and story.
⏳Well paced with ups and downs, the plot is moved forward with action, dialogue, and character arcs/growth.
👥 We get emotionally deep and nuanced characters as well as complex relationships. They're strong and snow vulnerability at times. The beauty is in their growth.
I love that we get characters who don't always make the "right" or "best" choices/decisions first. They make mistakes and learn from them. I love that they're over 30. They're sometimes mess, because life is messy at times.
💖 They're flawed and imperfect, faced with bodies that are beginning to show their age and how that impacts their jobs - there's beauty in living long enough to start seeing your age, and these two embracing that and being vulnerable with the other is beautiful to watch.
Their feelings were pretty immediate (but not admitted aloud at that time). I prefer sloooow. Although, since their emotional relationship doesn't progress immediately, this isn't too big of a deal for me.
🌶️ The spice is well written, timed, and placed. While it's a book with a FMC who happens to be a sex worker, spice is not the plot, nor does it come close to overtaking the plot. It serves the plot well.
📑 What I didn't quite love:
I wish a very minor plot point with a certain ex had been tied up.
I really wanted to see what (if any) fallout would come from something, as I felt it was maybe leading to something.
Not a con for me, but if you enjoy play by play hockey action, this doesn't have that so much as after reports (for the most part). I don't know anything about hockey so this worked well for me, but may not for some.
📜 Will I continue the series? Yes, for sure. I'm excited for book 2.
📚 If you like: The Striker by Ana Huang or Stealing Home by Harlow Cole, then I think you'd like this book.
⚠️ The FMC is an escort - if you think sex work is immoral, this book is not for you.
Thank you @melissanaatzauthor @haus.of.fables_pr for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
#hausoffables_pr #HOWWEEND #melissanaatzauthor
In the quiet aftermath of love and loss, Wyatt learns that endings aren't always the opposite of beginnings - they're how we become who we are.
---
"So cheers to being fucked by men in suits."
📖 I love that this book asks those willing to have an open mind to look at sex work in a different light - from a different perspective. Julian, the MMC, is a 35 year old pro hockey player whose body has been through it in this very physically demanding, sometimes violent, sport. He's paid quite handsomely for his efforts, for the damage/wear and tear to his body - Julian points out that what he does isn't entirely different from sex work. He's paid by a man in a suit to submit his body for physical use, which sometimes veers into abuse. It isn't exactly the same, but nor is it entirely different. And that made me really think about how we view sex work, when other's do similar (so much more similar) and yet, generally, that get a lot more respect. Or at least less direct disrespect, disdain, and derision.
"But time is a ruthless dealer..."
Beautifully ties together the theme of endings and endings' inevitablity. We're in Vegas and have time personified as a dealer (evoking gambling, risk, chance, etc). Wyatt (FMC) feels her "value" is diminishing due to her age because her sense of self-worth is tied to external factors like beauty, youth, and transactional survival.
This book examines a relationship that originated as merely a transaction, and explores how they could transition from that to a genuine, deep relationship.
Maybe I'm overthinking it but I feel like the setting being Vegas is symbolic. Vegas littered with neon lights - bright, artificial lights, there's always a spectacle, and its transient population. Vegas is know for quick wins, quicker losses, and illusions. This mirrors Wyatt's life of survival as a high end escort in that things may be shiny on the exterior but they're finite, expendable, and disposable.
✍🏼 Clearly and thoughtfully written, How We End doesn't shy away from difficult topics. Things are described well to set the scene, tone, etc - without excess adjectives to wade through. The dialogue reads smoothly and fitting for the characters and story.
⏳Well paced with ups and downs, the plot is moved forward with action, dialogue, and character arcs/growth.
👥 We get emotionally deep and nuanced characters as well as complex relationships. They're strong and snow vulnerability at times. The beauty is in their growth.
I love that we get characters who don't always make the "right" or "best" choices/decisions first. They make mistakes and learn from them. I love that they're over 30. They're sometimes mess, because life is messy at times.
💖 They're flawed and imperfect, faced with bodies that are beginning to show their age and how that impacts their jobs - there's beauty in living long enough to start seeing your age, and these two embracing that and being vulnerable with the other is beautiful to watch.
Their feelings were pretty immediate (but not admitted aloud at that time). I prefer sloooow. Although, since their emotional relationship doesn't progress immediately, this isn't too big of a deal for me.
🌶️ The spice is well written, timed, and placed. While it's a book with a FMC who happens to be a sex worker, spice is not the plot, nor does it come close to overtaking the plot. It serves the plot well.
📑 What I didn't quite love:
I wish a very minor plot point with a certain ex had been tied up.
I really wanted to see what (if any) fallout would come from something, as I felt it was maybe leading to something.
Not a con for me, but if you enjoy play by play hockey action, this doesn't have that so much as after reports (for the most part). I don't know anything about hockey so this worked well for me, but may not for some.
📜 Will I continue the series? Yes, for sure. I'm excited for book 2.
📚 If you like: The Striker by Ana Huang or Stealing Home by Harlow Cole, then I think you'd like this book.
⚠️ The FMC is an escort - if you think sex work is immoral, this book is not for you.
Thank you @melissanaatzauthor @haus.of.fables_pr for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
#hausoffables_pr #HOWWEEND #melissanaatzauthor
October 19, 2025
I just finished How We End by Melissa Naatz, and I have so many thoughts and not enough words to do them justice.
The FMC is named Wyatt (which I loved so much specifically for one scene 🤣) and she’s a sex worker. Her work isn’t romanticized or shamed. It’s portrayed with honesty and strength, and she fully owns it. But the story also doesn’t ignore the way society treats her because of it. That judgment, the stigma, it’s all there. She navigates both the pride in where/what she is and the weight of how the world sees her, and it makes her character feel real.
Julian’s a hockey player dealing with the physical and emotional toll of the sport. And yes, they’re both in their 30s—THANK you. They are full-grown adults with scars, history, and real-life obligations. Their relationship begins as a business arrangement, but what they build together is raw, patient, and hard-earned.
There’s no dramatic 75% plot twist. No over-the-top third-act breakup. It’s just about two people building something messy, unconventional, and real. Neither of them can be the other’s “first priority,” and they both know it—and still choose to try.
This is a quiet, deeply intimate story about two people learning how to be seen. You get tiny slices of their lives outside the relationship—details that let you fully know the characters. Not just in relationship mode, but in their own lives. You get these quiet little moments that make them feel like real people. Their inner thoughts, routines, and tiny interactions build such a full, nuanced portrait that I felt like I knew them. Like they were my friends.
OH yeah, this is a hockey romance that actually talks about hockey—the physical wear and tear, the stress, the impact of the game. It’s not just vibes and locker room banter. It’s emotional, gritty, and full of heart.
It’s grounded, layered, beautifully written… and I absolutely loved it.
The FMC is named Wyatt (which I loved so much specifically for one scene 🤣) and she’s a sex worker. Her work isn’t romanticized or shamed. It’s portrayed with honesty and strength, and she fully owns it. But the story also doesn’t ignore the way society treats her because of it. That judgment, the stigma, it’s all there. She navigates both the pride in where/what she is and the weight of how the world sees her, and it makes her character feel real.
Julian’s a hockey player dealing with the physical and emotional toll of the sport. And yes, they’re both in their 30s—THANK you. They are full-grown adults with scars, history, and real-life obligations. Their relationship begins as a business arrangement, but what they build together is raw, patient, and hard-earned.
There’s no dramatic 75% plot twist. No over-the-top third-act breakup. It’s just about two people building something messy, unconventional, and real. Neither of them can be the other’s “first priority,” and they both know it—and still choose to try.
This is a quiet, deeply intimate story about two people learning how to be seen. You get tiny slices of their lives outside the relationship—details that let you fully know the characters. Not just in relationship mode, but in their own lives. You get these quiet little moments that make them feel like real people. Their inner thoughts, routines, and tiny interactions build such a full, nuanced portrait that I felt like I knew them. Like they were my friends.
OH yeah, this is a hockey romance that actually talks about hockey—the physical wear and tear, the stress, the impact of the game. It’s not just vibes and locker room banter. It’s emotional, gritty, and full of heart.
It’s grounded, layered, beautifully written… and I absolutely loved it.
October 16, 2025
Wyatt Halliday’s been surviving in Vegas as a high-end escort for years, but at 35, she’s starting to feel like her time might be running out. Julian Silver, a hockey star facing injuries and the possibility of retirement, isn’t exactly thriving either. What starts as a simple escape for both of them turns into something deeper—and when their worlds collide, they have to figure out if love is worth the risk and what they’re willing to give up for it.
Melissa is the QUEEN of emotional and real reads when it comes to her contemporaries, and How We End is no different. This book was pure emotion, a lot of real life, and a little spice thrown in, and yes, it's a hockey romance but without being a hockey romance- if that makes any sense. I loved Wyatt as a character- she embodies what a strong and independent woman is supposed to be, and while she had her doubts and insecurities, it only helped me as a reader connect to her even more. I also really enjoyed Julian's character and the war he had within himself- he was raw and real and so well written, and he was HOTTTTT.
I don't want to give anything that happened in the book away so I will just leave you with the fact that the plot of the book and the character development played well together. The side characters also added a good bit of depth to the story. The layers that Melissa is able to write in is part of why I enjoy her books so much. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this read.
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Tropes:
Older MCs
Hockey Romance
Taboo Professions
Survival
Independence / Choosing Yourself
Sacrifice
Thank you Melissa Naatz for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Melissa is the QUEEN of emotional and real reads when it comes to her contemporaries, and How We End is no different. This book was pure emotion, a lot of real life, and a little spice thrown in, and yes, it's a hockey romance but without being a hockey romance- if that makes any sense. I loved Wyatt as a character- she embodies what a strong and independent woman is supposed to be, and while she had her doubts and insecurities, it only helped me as a reader connect to her even more. I also really enjoyed Julian's character and the war he had within himself- he was raw and real and so well written, and he was HOTTTTT.
I don't want to give anything that happened in the book away so I will just leave you with the fact that the plot of the book and the character development played well together. The side characters also added a good bit of depth to the story. The layers that Melissa is able to write in is part of why I enjoy her books so much. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this read.
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 2.5/5
Tropes:
Older MCs
Hockey Romance
Taboo Professions
Survival
Independence / Choosing Yourself
Sacrifice
Thank you Melissa Naatz for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
October 29, 2025
4.5🏒💃🏼🏒💃🏼✨️
Wow. I couldn't put this down. Julian is a 34yo hockey player who has spent his entire career trying not to let anyone down. Leaving it all on the ice and putting on a brave face when his whole body was screaming at him to rest.. to quit.. but who is Julian Silver if he isn't playing hockey?
Wyatt "Cassidy" Halliday is a high end independent escort/ sex worker in Vegas. After 16 years in the business and a few choice words from a balding old man about her age, she's wondering how long she can actually do this for. When is enough enough..
In walks Julian, bruised ego, looking for something to bring back his confidence after his ex publicly embarrasses him. Little does either of them know, this one choice will change the course of their lives.
If you've read any of her other books, you know Melissa is known for her HFN endings, but you'll just have to read this one to see whether or not they get to ride off into the sunset together or make that hard decision.
Highly Recommend ❤️
Spice(very early on but not main focus) 🌶🌶
Wow. I couldn't put this down. Julian is a 34yo hockey player who has spent his entire career trying not to let anyone down. Leaving it all on the ice and putting on a brave face when his whole body was screaming at him to rest.. to quit.. but who is Julian Silver if he isn't playing hockey?
Wyatt "Cassidy" Halliday is a high end independent escort/ sex worker in Vegas. After 16 years in the business and a few choice words from a balding old man about her age, she's wondering how long she can actually do this for. When is enough enough..
In walks Julian, bruised ego, looking for something to bring back his confidence after his ex publicly embarrasses him. Little does either of them know, this one choice will change the course of their lives.
If you've read any of her other books, you know Melissa is known for her HFN endings, but you'll just have to read this one to see whether or not they get to ride off into the sunset together or make that hard decision.
Highly Recommend ❤️
Spice(very early on but not main focus) 🌶🌶
November 9, 2025
How We End
📖 Oct 27–29, 2025
3.5 stars 🌟
This was actually my first hockey/sports romance, so I didn’t know what to expect but I ended up really enjoying the story! It has a solid plot, and I even had to look up a few hockey terms to keep up (good thing the PR package came with a cute bookmark explaining them 🩷). I wasn’t super attached to the characters, but they were still very likable and real. I especially appreciated how the book tackled topics that reflect real life, like sex work. There’s still a human being behind those choices, and they deserve respect. It’s not often that romance books dive into that topic.
I think the book can be a little bit longerrr? For me, some subplots, like Julian and Emily’s divorce and Wyatt and Maverick’s ending, could’ve been explored more deeply. The conflict near the end also felt a little rushed (why was there still something going on at 95% ><), but overall, I still found myself rooting for the main characters and feeling happy for them. The Stanley Cup win and Wyatt’s decision to finally take it easy and leave her work were the perfect ending 🩷
I’m so grateful to be part of the street team for this book. Thank you so much to author Melissa Naatz for gifting me both the digital and physical ARC! 🥹
📖 Oct 27–29, 2025
3.5 stars 🌟
This was actually my first hockey/sports romance, so I didn’t know what to expect but I ended up really enjoying the story! It has a solid plot, and I even had to look up a few hockey terms to keep up (good thing the PR package came with a cute bookmark explaining them 🩷). I wasn’t super attached to the characters, but they were still very likable and real. I especially appreciated how the book tackled topics that reflect real life, like sex work. There’s still a human being behind those choices, and they deserve respect. It’s not often that romance books dive into that topic.
I think the book can be a little bit longerrr? For me, some subplots, like Julian and Emily’s divorce and Wyatt and Maverick’s ending, could’ve been explored more deeply. The conflict near the end also felt a little rushed (why was there still something going on at 95% ><), but overall, I still found myself rooting for the main characters and feeling happy for them. The Stanley Cup win and Wyatt’s decision to finally take it easy and leave her work were the perfect ending 🩷
I’m so grateful to be part of the street team for this book. Thank you so much to author Melissa Naatz for gifting me both the digital and physical ARC! 🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
3.25🌟There were several things I enjoyed about this book - I like the Vegas setting, the hockey player lifestyle explained and the older MCs. i liked that the author included sex work but it wasnt spicy scene after spicy scene. I just didnt connect with the relationship or the characters as must as I wanted despite the book touching on some deep themes which I always appreciate in my contemporary romance - definitely could of been a me thing!
Thank you to the author and Haus of Fables PR for this arc opportunity
Thank you to the author and Haus of Fables PR for this arc opportunity
October 12, 2025
4.5 stars!!
this was emotional and hot and full of drama!!
just like every one of melissa's books, this one was deeply emotional and full of messiness. i really enjoy romances that feel realistic & a little hopeless in the middle but turn out happy in the end. & that's exactly how this one was. i wanted to scream !! i wanted to cry !! but i was also smling so big and swooooooning
not to mention, it's HOT !!!!! julian is perfect.
thank you Melissa Naatz for the arc! this is my honest review.
this was emotional and hot and full of drama!!
just like every one of melissa's books, this one was deeply emotional and full of messiness. i really enjoy romances that feel realistic & a little hopeless in the middle but turn out happy in the end. & that's exactly how this one was. i wanted to scream !! i wanted to cry !! but i was also smling so big and swooooooning
not to mention, it's HOT !!!!! julian is perfect.
thank you Melissa Naatz for the arc! this is my honest review.
October 15, 2025
This book follows an ice hockey player and a high-end escort who are both at the ends of their careers (at 30). They both find connection through each other, both trying to outrun the lives they’ve built.
I just couldn’t fully invest. Parts of the story felt a little rushed, and I wasn’t completely sold on their world wind romance.
Still, if you’re after a quick, angsty Vegas read, this one might be for you.
Thank you @haus.of.fables_pr for the gifted ARC.
I just couldn’t fully invest. Parts of the story felt a little rushed, and I wasn’t completely sold on their world wind romance.
Still, if you’re after a quick, angsty Vegas read, this one might be for you.
Thank you @haus.of.fables_pr for the gifted ARC.
October 8, 2025
It has been a while since I fell so completely in love with a book that I read it in one sitting without getting distracted. I could not tear my attention away from Wyatt and Julian’s story though. I mean wow. Just wow. Melissa Naatz knocked this one of the park! It was freaking amazing. This book drug me out of a month long book hangover and left me ready and waiting for the next one.
At its core, How We End is a hockey romance with two main characters that are both in the metaphorical winter of their respective careers. Life is changing and neither knows just what to do with that. Wyatt is a 35 year old escort trying to figure out what the next stage of her life looks like; because even working in Vegas, she’s not as young as she used to be and her profession isn’t really geared towards longevity. Life as a paid escort has been good to her, but all good things eventually come to an end. When Wyatt is hired by Julian, a 34 year old, winger for the Las Vegas Coyotes, who’s trying to work through his own career struggles and pending divorce, she has no idea that this job will change everything for them both. Wyatt wants to figure out how to step out of the world she’s lived in for 16 years and Julian is trying to prove to the world of hockey that he isn’t the washed up has been his ex claimed him to be. Neither are looking for love, but sometimes just having someone be present when you need them leaves the door open for more.
This book had me hooked from beginning to finish. The plot was unique and so well written. Melissa Naatz has way with words that draws you into her worlds and lets you feel what her characters are feeling through the writing. It’s spectacular. The freaking chemistry between the two main characters was unstoppable! This wasn’t the spiciest book I’ve ever read, and that’s ok! The emotional aspect was so much more. Absolutely none of it felt forced or hard to read. It was beautiful and captivating and grabbed onto me, heart and soul. The characters were magnetic and so fascinating. Then, having the Vegas strip as the setting was brilliant. There was nothing I didn’t love about this book!
Thank you so much to Melissa Naatz and Haus Of Fables for the free ARC for How We End. I am leaving this review voluntarily and the opinions included are my own.
At its core, How We End is a hockey romance with two main characters that are both in the metaphorical winter of their respective careers. Life is changing and neither knows just what to do with that. Wyatt is a 35 year old escort trying to figure out what the next stage of her life looks like; because even working in Vegas, she’s not as young as she used to be and her profession isn’t really geared towards longevity. Life as a paid escort has been good to her, but all good things eventually come to an end. When Wyatt is hired by Julian, a 34 year old, winger for the Las Vegas Coyotes, who’s trying to work through his own career struggles and pending divorce, she has no idea that this job will change everything for them both. Wyatt wants to figure out how to step out of the world she’s lived in for 16 years and Julian is trying to prove to the world of hockey that he isn’t the washed up has been his ex claimed him to be. Neither are looking for love, but sometimes just having someone be present when you need them leaves the door open for more.
This book had me hooked from beginning to finish. The plot was unique and so well written. Melissa Naatz has way with words that draws you into her worlds and lets you feel what her characters are feeling through the writing. It’s spectacular. The freaking chemistry between the two main characters was unstoppable! This wasn’t the spiciest book I’ve ever read, and that’s ok! The emotional aspect was so much more. Absolutely none of it felt forced or hard to read. It was beautiful and captivating and grabbed onto me, heart and soul. The characters were magnetic and so fascinating. Then, having the Vegas strip as the setting was brilliant. There was nothing I didn’t love about this book!
Thank you so much to Melissa Naatz and Haus Of Fables for the free ARC for How We End. I am leaving this review voluntarily and the opinions included are my own.
September 14, 2025
“Long ago, when I still believed in things like sunsets and falling in love, this was what I would have wished for. A man like Julian. Handsome and caring. If only I believed in those things.”
How We End is the first book in the Silver Line series. And it’s everything. Wyatt & Julian’s story was done so well, and the look into the lives of people in their professions was very eye opening for people of their age. It goes to show the journey you travel may be rough but how it ends matters the most.
Wyatt Cassidy Halliday and Julian Silver are both in their mid 30s, and their jobs are the kind when this is about the time you pack things up. But neither is ready to give up just yet.
Wyatt has never had a real relationship, whether it a friend or man, for her it’s better to keep people at a distance. Especially because of the type of work she does as an escort. But now that she’s 35 and this is the only job she’s ever known, the next step isn’t as clear as she’d like it to be.
Julian just wants to forget the past and play hockey. But it seems no one will let him. With a ruined marriage, bad games, and even worse injuries he’s worried this may be the end of the career he’s worked so hard for.
Their night together was just supposed to be that, one night. And it turned into so much more✨
“I used to hate sunsets. But now I know there was a silver lining in every one.”
This was a wonderful fast paced contemporary romance. And I think only my third hockey romance? I absolutely love Wyatt and how strong she is. She’s been through so much and her family backstory gave even more understanding about her. She did what she had to do to survive and I applaud her for that. Julian is just a kind soul pressured into a major league of a sport he grew up loving. Due to being a legacy in the sport people expect a lot from him. It seemed they needed each other to see what their future was truly meant to be like.
All I wanted was more of their ending 🥹
I’d love an epilogue or bonus scene one day. They deserve everything and more 🫶🏼
(Can you tell im obsessed with them 🤭)
Thank you Ms Naatz for having me on your street/arc team! Book 2 is gonna be absolutely epic💥
Your stories are so amazing and I can’t get enough of them.
How We End is the first book in the Silver Line series. And it’s everything. Wyatt & Julian’s story was done so well, and the look into the lives of people in their professions was very eye opening for people of their age. It goes to show the journey you travel may be rough but how it ends matters the most.
Wyatt Cassidy Halliday and Julian Silver are both in their mid 30s, and their jobs are the kind when this is about the time you pack things up. But neither is ready to give up just yet.
Wyatt has never had a real relationship, whether it a friend or man, for her it’s better to keep people at a distance. Especially because of the type of work she does as an escort. But now that she’s 35 and this is the only job she’s ever known, the next step isn’t as clear as she’d like it to be.
Julian just wants to forget the past and play hockey. But it seems no one will let him. With a ruined marriage, bad games, and even worse injuries he’s worried this may be the end of the career he’s worked so hard for.
Their night together was just supposed to be that, one night. And it turned into so much more✨
“I used to hate sunsets. But now I know there was a silver lining in every one.”
This was a wonderful fast paced contemporary romance. And I think only my third hockey romance? I absolutely love Wyatt and how strong she is. She’s been through so much and her family backstory gave even more understanding about her. She did what she had to do to survive and I applaud her for that. Julian is just a kind soul pressured into a major league of a sport he grew up loving. Due to being a legacy in the sport people expect a lot from him. It seemed they needed each other to see what their future was truly meant to be like.
All I wanted was more of their ending 🥹
I’d love an epilogue or bonus scene one day. They deserve everything and more 🫶🏼
(Can you tell im obsessed with them 🤭)
Thank you Ms Naatz for having me on your street/arc team! Book 2 is gonna be absolutely epic💥
Your stories are so amazing and I can’t get enough of them.
November 4, 2025
I am so in love with this. Reading “How We End” is like watching a beautifully shot movie. The book is unapologetically gritty but in the most stunning of ways. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading about Wyatt and Julian but the relationship they have with one another and their relationship to their respective jobs is just so well told. Wyatt is a high-end escort who goes by the name “Cassidy” when she’s with her clients and Julian is a hockey player that many people have their eyes on. When his performance starts tanking, it’s to Cassidy he goes in an effort to see if there’s a remedy for his abilities on the ice. But in the moments they have together, they start understanding and seeing each other in a new light, and find that they might have more in common than they thought.
I don’t know what magic Melissa Naatz is weaving through this story but it’s so good. I’ve read my fair share of hockey romance but this feels like it’s so much more and I really appreciate it. Wyatt and Julian are not perfect no matter how hard they try to be, they are very flawed individuals. They have different traumas and they view their lives as being pretty similar despite their very different careers. The characters feel very real regardless of whether they are the main characters or secondary characters and the feelings they show one another also feel real. Everything about the story feels real and it feels good. Even though the topic and themes are heavy, something about this story feels cozy, but do NOT mistake it for being a cozy read. If you’re looking for a hockey romance that feels more ingrained in the real world, you might want to give it a try, but please note the content/trigger warnings.
Thank you so much to Haus of Fables and Melissa Naatz for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.
I don’t know what magic Melissa Naatz is weaving through this story but it’s so good. I’ve read my fair share of hockey romance but this feels like it’s so much more and I really appreciate it. Wyatt and Julian are not perfect no matter how hard they try to be, they are very flawed individuals. They have different traumas and they view their lives as being pretty similar despite their very different careers. The characters feel very real regardless of whether they are the main characters or secondary characters and the feelings they show one another also feel real. Everything about the story feels real and it feels good. Even though the topic and themes are heavy, something about this story feels cozy, but do NOT mistake it for being a cozy read. If you’re looking for a hockey romance that feels more ingrained in the real world, you might want to give it a try, but please note the content/trigger warnings.
Thank you so much to Haus of Fables and Melissa Naatz for the gifted ARC! All opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
Fair warning, this isn't you're typical hockey romance. It's raw, emotional, and heartbreaking, but there is a happy ending.
there's something about how Melissa writes her books and her characters story that just always hooks me in.
it's always raw, real, and relatable in ways.
even if it's not relatable to you personally, you get the sense of understanding.
Julian and Wyatt's story was just heartbreaking seeing them go through some difficult things career wise and in their personal life.
But also seeing their characters grow and heal....it made me so happy for them.
But getting to the happy was tough.
I've never read a book about an escort and honestly I enjoyed it. Seeing the behind the scenes of things. Wyatt has been through A LOT in her 15 years of this career. A lot. It absolutely broke my heart when what happened to her was revealed.
Both these characters have been through a lot. Julian as a popular hockey player who's 34, his body has been through a lot. Not to mention his emotional and mental struggles he's been battling.
.
These two were just perfect though. Somehow they worked. I just loved them.
Especially loved the Christmas getaway. Oh my gosh...theres some cute scenes with the emotional ones.
.
The last few chapters man, so damn emotional...but the ending. It was a quick ending, but that's in true Melissa fashion. But that ending was just absolutely worth everything we went through with these characters.
.
Thank you Melissa for having me on your team and allow me to arc read this book.
I simply loved it.🫶🏻
there's something about how Melissa writes her books and her characters story that just always hooks me in.
it's always raw, real, and relatable in ways.
even if it's not relatable to you personally, you get the sense of understanding.
Julian and Wyatt's story was just heartbreaking seeing them go through some difficult things career wise and in their personal life.
But also seeing their characters grow and heal....it made me so happy for them.
But getting to the happy was tough.
I've never read a book about an escort and honestly I enjoyed it. Seeing the behind the scenes of things. Wyatt has been through A LOT in her 15 years of this career. A lot. It absolutely broke my heart when what happened to her was revealed.
Both these characters have been through a lot. Julian as a popular hockey player who's 34, his body has been through a lot. Not to mention his emotional and mental struggles he's been battling.
.
These two were just perfect though. Somehow they worked. I just loved them.
Especially loved the Christmas getaway. Oh my gosh...theres some cute scenes with the emotional ones.
.
The last few chapters man, so damn emotional...but the ending. It was a quick ending, but that's in true Melissa fashion. But that ending was just absolutely worth everything we went through with these characters.
.
Thank you Melissa for having me on your team and allow me to arc read this book.
I simply loved it.🫶🏻
October 10, 2025
I don’t even know where to begin. How We End was full of surprises in the best ways. I’ll be honest, I was curious at first because I’ve never read a book centered on a sex worker, but it turned out to be incredibly well-written, emotionally engaging, and a delightful surprise. From the very first pages, I felt drawn into Wyatt and Julian’s world, experiencing their struggles, hopes, and fears as if they were my own.
The story doesn’t shy away from showing the challenges they face, both individually and together. Wyatt and Julian have to navigate a life full of obstacles, and the author captures their pain, resilience, and growth in such a realistic way. Their connection feels genuine and heartfelt, and it’s inspiring to see how they fight for each other even when everything seems impossible.
What really stands out is how real the book feels, it’s not a typical fairy tale with an easy happy ending. Instead, it’s raw, authentic, and honest about life’s difficulties, which made me care about the characters even more. I loved seeing their relationship develop, the moments of tenderness, humor, and understanding between them. By the end, I was emotionally invested, and I found myself wishing there was a bit more, perhaps an epilogue, to give us a little extra closure on their journey.
Overall, How We End is a beautifully written, moving story about love, perseverance, and the complexity of human connections.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC.
The story doesn’t shy away from showing the challenges they face, both individually and together. Wyatt and Julian have to navigate a life full of obstacles, and the author captures their pain, resilience, and growth in such a realistic way. Their connection feels genuine and heartfelt, and it’s inspiring to see how they fight for each other even when everything seems impossible.
What really stands out is how real the book feels, it’s not a typical fairy tale with an easy happy ending. Instead, it’s raw, authentic, and honest about life’s difficulties, which made me care about the characters even more. I loved seeing their relationship develop, the moments of tenderness, humor, and understanding between them. By the end, I was emotionally invested, and I found myself wishing there was a bit more, perhaps an epilogue, to give us a little extra closure on their journey.
Overall, How We End is a beautifully written, moving story about love, perseverance, and the complexity of human connections.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC.
October 27, 2025
How We End by Melissa Naatz
descriptors:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 emoji synopsis:
🫦🏒🎰❤️🩹💵
my thoughts:
let me start by saying this is my first hockey romance read and also first s*x worker read. so truthfully, i didn’t really know what to expect but i could not put this one down! there are so many aspects to it so let me break it down:
🫦 Wyatt, fmc, is an escort. so let me say this, if sex work is insensitive to you or you do not like the idea of representation of sex work as well as explicit scenes then don’t read this book. However, Wyatt is definitely more than just her career and I really enjoyed reading her and exploring her lifestyle given her career. I felt like despite her job being taboo, her character was relatable at times and really highlighted how at the end of the day, she’s just a human trying to find their meaning in this world… like everyone else!
🏒 Julian Silver, mmc, is a veteran hockey player who is constantly dealing with the pressure of his sport, his fame, his chronic pain and his family. he battles with the idea that hockey is all he has. i loved reading how a tough hockey player man could but so soft when it comes to love.
TW: i don’t typically put trigger warnings but this book does have some pretty heavy and dark themes to it so please just be sure to keep that in mind before reading. i won’t list them to keep this spoiler free, so if you’re really concerned, i encourage you to look them up.
I reccomended this if you’re looking for:
🏒hockey player romance
♥️ sex worker representation
🎰 casino, rich, vegas aesthetic
❤️🩹 aging and identity
💵 career value vs self value
descriptors:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 emoji synopsis:
🫦🏒🎰❤️🩹💵
my thoughts:
let me start by saying this is my first hockey romance read and also first s*x worker read. so truthfully, i didn’t really know what to expect but i could not put this one down! there are so many aspects to it so let me break it down:
🫦 Wyatt, fmc, is an escort. so let me say this, if sex work is insensitive to you or you do not like the idea of representation of sex work as well as explicit scenes then don’t read this book. However, Wyatt is definitely more than just her career and I really enjoyed reading her and exploring her lifestyle given her career. I felt like despite her job being taboo, her character was relatable at times and really highlighted how at the end of the day, she’s just a human trying to find their meaning in this world… like everyone else!
🏒 Julian Silver, mmc, is a veteran hockey player who is constantly dealing with the pressure of his sport, his fame, his chronic pain and his family. he battles with the idea that hockey is all he has. i loved reading how a tough hockey player man could but so soft when it comes to love.
TW: i don’t typically put trigger warnings but this book does have some pretty heavy and dark themes to it so please just be sure to keep that in mind before reading. i won’t list them to keep this spoiler free, so if you’re really concerned, i encourage you to look them up.
I reccomended this if you’re looking for:
🏒hockey player romance
♥️ sex worker representation
🎰 casino, rich, vegas aesthetic
❤️🩹 aging and identity
💵 career value vs self value
October 6, 2025
4.5
Wow. Just… wow. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this, especially not a story centered on sex workers told with such honesty and compassion. Going in, I was simply curious about why someone might choose that path, with no idea where the story would lead. But from the first chapter, I was hooked. I needed to know what was happening in her world, day by day. The unexpected Canada and hockey backdrop delighted me (my husband is Canadian and a huge hockey fan), and I found myself rooting so hard for Silver and Wyatt, holding my breath that it wouldn’t all fall apart. I teared up around the 40% mark, completely invested in their journey. I had no idea how demanding, stressful, and injury-ridden that lifestyle could be until this book showed me. The complicated relationship with your client and wife? How fascinating? I was so drawn to how they tried to balance ambition, love, and survival. The ending came too abruptly. I wanted more time with them. But what a ride. This was my first book by the author, and definitely not my last. Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
Wow. Just… wow. I couldn’t put it down. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this, especially not a story centered on sex workers told with such honesty and compassion. Going in, I was simply curious about why someone might choose that path, with no idea where the story would lead. But from the first chapter, I was hooked. I needed to know what was happening in her world, day by day. The unexpected Canada and hockey backdrop delighted me (my husband is Canadian and a huge hockey fan), and I found myself rooting so hard for Silver and Wyatt, holding my breath that it wouldn’t all fall apart. I teared up around the 40% mark, completely invested in their journey. I had no idea how demanding, stressful, and injury-ridden that lifestyle could be until this book showed me. The complicated relationship with your client and wife? How fascinating? I was so drawn to how they tried to balance ambition, love, and survival. The ending came too abruptly. I wanted more time with them. But what a ride. This was my first book by the author, and definitely not my last. Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.
October 27, 2025
This book is that book that you will remember for a long time. I absolutely loved it. Julian and Wyatt's story is raw and beautiful.
Wyatt is an escort and has been doing it for a long time. She's beautiful but according to some men at 35 she is getting "old". She has high end clients but when she was young it was rough at first and she also has suffered heartbreak so she tries not to get attached.
Julian is a hockey player and in his thirties always people talking about how he's getting too old for this. He also suffered from a woman and things that happened with that obviously is public knowledge. This and some things have affected his game so a teammate suggests an escort to help him get out of his funk.
When Julian and Wyatt meet, there's just something between them. Julian isn't like her other clients and there's just something about her that helps him.
Won't give anything else away just know this is a must read!
But can the two of them really be together especially with her present and past? Read this to find out. I cried and sobbed and even smiled in this book. Has everything I need and highly recommend.
Wyatt is an escort and has been doing it for a long time. She's beautiful but according to some men at 35 she is getting "old". She has high end clients but when she was young it was rough at first and she also has suffered heartbreak so she tries not to get attached.
Julian is a hockey player and in his thirties always people talking about how he's getting too old for this. He also suffered from a woman and things that happened with that obviously is public knowledge. This and some things have affected his game so a teammate suggests an escort to help him get out of his funk.
When Julian and Wyatt meet, there's just something between them. Julian isn't like her other clients and there's just something about her that helps him.
Won't give anything else away just know this is a must read!
But can the two of them really be together especially with her present and past? Read this to find out. I cried and sobbed and even smiled in this book. Has everything I need and highly recommend.
October 5, 2025
This book caught my eye the second I read the blurb and I’m so glad I applied for the ARC. It’s not my usual read, but it absolutely hooked me from page one.
How We End feels different in the best way. It’s about two people standing at the edge of who they used to be, older, jaded, and still trying to believe they deserve more than survival. Wyatt, a high-end escort in her mid-thirties, and Julian, a fading hockey star, are both written with such humanity that you feel every ache, every quiet heartbreak, every stolen moment of hope.
I loved that this story centred on older main characters. As a woman in her 30s, it felt so refreshing to see a romance that isn’t all youth and glitter, but instead messy, complicated, and deeply real. The representation of sex work was handled with honesty and empathy, never glamorised, but never shamed either. Just raw, human truth.
It’s not a light read, it’s heavy with longing, regret, and the kind of tenderness that hurts. But that’s what made it so powerful.
Gritty, emotional, and quietly devastating. How We End proves that love stories don’t have to be perfect to be unforgettable.
How We End feels different in the best way. It’s about two people standing at the edge of who they used to be, older, jaded, and still trying to believe they deserve more than survival. Wyatt, a high-end escort in her mid-thirties, and Julian, a fading hockey star, are both written with such humanity that you feel every ache, every quiet heartbreak, every stolen moment of hope.
I loved that this story centred on older main characters. As a woman in her 30s, it felt so refreshing to see a romance that isn’t all youth and glitter, but instead messy, complicated, and deeply real. The representation of sex work was handled with honesty and empathy, never glamorised, but never shamed either. Just raw, human truth.
It’s not a light read, it’s heavy with longing, regret, and the kind of tenderness that hurts. But that’s what made it so powerful.
Gritty, emotional, and quietly devastating. How We End proves that love stories don’t have to be perfect to be unforgettable.
October 24, 2025
Thank you so much to Haus of Fables and to the author, Melissa for this early copy.
Well this was my first hockey romance and wow! I loved this book honestly. The only wish I had was, there was slightly a stronger conclusion. If it went to 400 pages I wouldn’t have minded. I could continue this story.
First off, I loved the FMC Cassidy/Wyatt. Her character arc was great. I loved how ageism is such a huge theme. I loved how you were thrown into a plastic surgeons “appointment” and all of the flaws are pointed out because you’re approaching 36. And on the other side, with the MMC, ageism is prominent with an older hockey player with falling stats. That is seen so much in the sports world it’s wild.
Just because you hit 35 doesn’t mean you aged out of life.
Now for the MMC, Julian, bro, you needed some better people in your life. Just like Wyatt, so many people failed you.
New seasons of life come with new changes.
All and all, this was a sold 4.5 ⭐️. I love Melissa’s writing and storytelling so much.
Well this was my first hockey romance and wow! I loved this book honestly. The only wish I had was, there was slightly a stronger conclusion. If it went to 400 pages I wouldn’t have minded. I could continue this story.
First off, I loved the FMC Cassidy/Wyatt. Her character arc was great. I loved how ageism is such a huge theme. I loved how you were thrown into a plastic surgeons “appointment” and all of the flaws are pointed out because you’re approaching 36. And on the other side, with the MMC, ageism is prominent with an older hockey player with falling stats. That is seen so much in the sports world it’s wild.
Just because you hit 35 doesn’t mean you aged out of life.
Now for the MMC, Julian, bro, you needed some better people in your life. Just like Wyatt, so many people failed you.
New seasons of life come with new changes.
All and all, this was a sold 4.5 ⭐️. I love Melissa’s writing and storytelling so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ - 4.5 stars
“How will we ride off into our happily ever after if you don’t believe in sunsets?”
Review:
This contemporary sports romance really surprised me in the best way. The characters are in their 30s and I loved how mature they both felt. The story follows a high-end escort and a hockey player who are both feeling the pressure of age and time catching up to them. Set in Las Vegas, their love story is messy and raw but also emotional and real.
Both characters have pasts that really shape who they are and I liked that their relationship wasn’t perfect. It made them feel so real and I found myself genuinely connected to them.
Not was it only emotional, there were also plenty swooning, funny and spicy moments.
The pacing was great and I found myself completely pulled in. I couldn’t stop reading and ended up devouring the whole thing in 24 hours.
It impossible to put down.
✨️ Contemporary sports romance
✨️ Hockey player vs high-end escort
✨️ Dual POV
✨️ Secret past
✨️ Sacrifice
✨️ Spice
✨️ 30+ maincharacters
✨️ Halloween party
“How will we ride off into our happily ever after if you don’t believe in sunsets?”
Review:
This contemporary sports romance really surprised me in the best way. The characters are in their 30s and I loved how mature they both felt. The story follows a high-end escort and a hockey player who are both feeling the pressure of age and time catching up to them. Set in Las Vegas, their love story is messy and raw but also emotional and real.
Both characters have pasts that really shape who they are and I liked that their relationship wasn’t perfect. It made them feel so real and I found myself genuinely connected to them.
Not was it only emotional, there were also plenty swooning, funny and spicy moments.
The pacing was great and I found myself completely pulled in. I couldn’t stop reading and ended up devouring the whole thing in 24 hours.
It impossible to put down.
✨️ Contemporary sports romance
✨️ Hockey player vs high-end escort
✨️ Dual POV
✨️ Secret past
✨️ Sacrifice
✨️ Spice
✨️ 30+ maincharacters
✨️ Halloween party
November 5, 2025
I’d been craving something quieter. A romance that didn’t rush, didn’t rely on drama to hit hard, and actually let the feelings land. This book gave me all of that.
Wyatt and Julian are older, worn down in different ways, and trying to figure out if they’re still allowed to want anything more. The setup could have felt heavy, but instead it’s grounded and sharp. I never felt like it was asking me to pity them. It just lets them be who they are, and that’s what made it so effective.
The emotional beats land without needing a big twist or over-the-top moment. Just two people trying to connect while carrying everything that’s come before. It worked. It really worked.
The writing is strong without drawing attention to itself. There were lines I paused on, not because they were flashy, but because they said something true.
I’m so glad I picked this up when I did.
4.5 stars rounded down because Goodreads doesn't allow half stars.
Wyatt and Julian are older, worn down in different ways, and trying to figure out if they’re still allowed to want anything more. The setup could have felt heavy, but instead it’s grounded and sharp. I never felt like it was asking me to pity them. It just lets them be who they are, and that’s what made it so effective.
The emotional beats land without needing a big twist or over-the-top moment. Just two people trying to connect while carrying everything that’s come before. It worked. It really worked.
The writing is strong without drawing attention to itself. There were lines I paused on, not because they were flashy, but because they said something true.
I’m so glad I picked this up when I did.
4.5 stars rounded down because Goodreads doesn't allow half stars.
October 6, 2025
"Where have you been all my life? In all the wrong places, love. With all the wrong people."
I went into this book excited, but I didn’t expect to love it this much. The tension and denial between the characters were so well done, you could feel their instant attraction but also their struggles with their own insecurities. I loved how they were there for each other and how selfless they both were, especially her. Maverick and Emily, though… I really couldn’t stand how they kept pushing Julian and Wyatt into things they didn’t want. For a while, I was genuinely scared there wouldn’t be a happy ending, and it broke my heart because they deserved better. But I’m so glad they got it. I honestly wish there were more books about these characters.
Fave quote: “I used to hate sunsets. But now I know there was a silver lining in every one.”
I went into this book excited, but I didn’t expect to love it this much. The tension and denial between the characters were so well done, you could feel their instant attraction but also their struggles with their own insecurities. I loved how they were there for each other and how selfless they both were, especially her. Maverick and Emily, though… I really couldn’t stand how they kept pushing Julian and Wyatt into things they didn’t want. For a while, I was genuinely scared there wouldn’t be a happy ending, and it broke my heart because they deserved better. But I’m so glad they got it. I honestly wish there were more books about these characters.
Fave quote: “I used to hate sunsets. But now I know there was a silver lining in every one.”
October 14, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ How We End is a raw, emotional hockey romance between Wyatt, a high-end escort trying to start over, and Julian, a pro hockey player facing the end of his career. What starts as a transaction slowly turns into something real as they both confront the parts of themselves they’ve been hiding.
It’s messy in the best way—filled with vulnerability, tension, and two people learning how to trust again when love feels like the last thing they deserve. Melissa Naatz writes their connection with so much honesty and care, it’s impossible not to root for them.
My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed after such a strong build-up, but overall, this was a beautifully written, heartfelt story about healing, love, and second chances.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It’s messy in the best way—filled with vulnerability, tension, and two people learning how to trust again when love feels like the last thing they deserve. Melissa Naatz writes their connection with so much honesty and care, it’s impossible not to root for them.
My only complaint is that the ending felt a little rushed after such a strong build-up, but overall, this was a beautifully written, heartfelt story about healing, love, and second chances.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 24, 2025
3.5 stars. Overall cute and easy to read. It was very much pretty woman in NHL setting.
Wyatt Cassidy Halliday has been a sex worker for over 15 years and at the age of 35 she finds herself questioning her feeling and her future. When NHL star Julian Silver comes into her life she then starts questioning retirement. Julian himself is struggling with his purpose in life outside of hockey and at the age of 36 wondering how much longer he has in the hockey game.
Tropes:
Second chances
Identity, shame, and societal worth
Fear of being perceived and risking it for love
Aging, identity and starting over
Sex worker + celebrity/athlete dynamic
Aging out of the only life you’ve ever known
Love as Risk, Not Rescue
Emotional isolation vs chosen connection
Letting go of performance to be truly see
My opinions are my own. Thank you Haus of Fables and author Melissa Naatz for this eARC.
Wyatt Cassidy Halliday has been a sex worker for over 15 years and at the age of 35 she finds herself questioning her feeling and her future. When NHL star Julian Silver comes into her life she then starts questioning retirement. Julian himself is struggling with his purpose in life outside of hockey and at the age of 36 wondering how much longer he has in the hockey game.
Tropes:
Second chances
Identity, shame, and societal worth
Fear of being perceived and risking it for love
Aging, identity and starting over
Sex worker + celebrity/athlete dynamic
Aging out of the only life you’ve ever known
Love as Risk, Not Rescue
Emotional isolation vs chosen connection
Letting go of performance to be truly see
My opinions are my own. Thank you Haus of Fables and author Melissa Naatz for this eARC.
November 3, 2025
✨️3.5 rounded up to a ✨️4
Thank you for this gifted ARC from Haus of Fables, and Melissa Naatz.
This is the second book I've read by Melissa and she has continued to hit it out the park with these characters. She has such a way with making characters so real. No character in this book is flawless, they make questionable choices and say the perfect things. You don't see these types of characters in romances (definitely not in hockey romances) very often.
This book was going to be a 4 star, maybe even a 5, but their is a big twist within the last 95% that honestly just annoyed me. It wasn't enough time to fully go through with where it seemed to be rushed? I will give the credit that they did communicate through some of the situation. That normally wouldn't happen so I appreciate it a lot.
Thank you for this gifted ARC from Haus of Fables, and Melissa Naatz.
This is the second book I've read by Melissa and she has continued to hit it out the park with these characters. She has such a way with making characters so real. No character in this book is flawless, they make questionable choices and say the perfect things. You don't see these types of characters in romances (definitely not in hockey romances) very often.
This book was going to be a 4 star, maybe even a 5, but their is a big twist within the last 95% that honestly just annoyed me. It wasn't enough time to fully go through with where it seemed to be rushed? I will give the credit that they did communicate through some of the situation. That normally wouldn't happen so I appreciate it a lot.
October 19, 2025
This was my first ever hockey romance and I’m hooked! I cannot wait for book 2!
I wasn’t sure what to expect, since this was my first hockey romance but it was so good.
Wyatt went from a high end Escort and Julian a very famous and well loved hockey player, best player in the sport, to possibly finally getting to live the life THEY choose to live.
“All that glitters isn’t gold…sometimes it’s Silver”! Love that quote!!
This book took me on a journey that through characters that professionally I can’t relate to, but the thoughts and feelings and they way life craps on them, I can. It left a lasting impression on me. Makes me think of that quote “if you love them, set them free, if they were meant to be yours they will find their way back to you!”
I wasn’t sure what to expect, since this was my first hockey romance but it was so good.
Wyatt went from a high end Escort and Julian a very famous and well loved hockey player, best player in the sport, to possibly finally getting to live the life THEY choose to live.
“All that glitters isn’t gold…sometimes it’s Silver”! Love that quote!!
This book took me on a journey that through characters that professionally I can’t relate to, but the thoughts and feelings and they way life craps on them, I can. It left a lasting impression on me. Makes me think of that quote “if you love them, set them free, if they were meant to be yours they will find their way back to you!”
October 28, 2025
📚✨ How We End by Melissa Naatz
⭐️5/5 | 🌶️2/5
I WAS EATING THIS BOOK UP... like, literally reading it while getting my blood pressure checked at the doctor’s 😭 I was down bad.
This one hit all the right notes. A realistic, emotionally grounded hockey romance that actually talks about hockey, the exhaustion, the physical toll, and the love for the game. Not just locker room vibes.
What really made me love it? Positive sex work representation and a female main character in their 30s. It felt mature, raw, and real in the best way.
No dramatic 75% twist. Just two people trying to build something messy, unconventional, and deeply human.
🏒Reading Mood: Curl up with this one when you want something heartfelt, character-driven, and quietly powerful.
⭐️5/5 | 🌶️2/5
I WAS EATING THIS BOOK UP... like, literally reading it while getting my blood pressure checked at the doctor’s 😭 I was down bad.
This one hit all the right notes. A realistic, emotionally grounded hockey romance that actually talks about hockey, the exhaustion, the physical toll, and the love for the game. Not just locker room vibes.
What really made me love it? Positive sex work representation and a female main character in their 30s. It felt mature, raw, and real in the best way.
No dramatic 75% twist. Just two people trying to build something messy, unconventional, and deeply human.
🏒Reading Mood: Curl up with this one when you want something heartfelt, character-driven, and quietly powerful.
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