In the Net

Sin Bin Stories #5

by Lyssa Lemire

I’ve hated the hockey player for years. But when I need a guy to pretend I'm in love with, he’s the perfect choice.

Sebastian Bookish, athletic, and—as much as I hate to admit it—hot, he’s most girls’ dream come true. But I grew up with him, and I can’t stand the arrogant, entitled hotshot he’s become.

As an English major with PhD ambitions, I live my life buried in books. So what if my dedication to academics means I rarely date? There are more important things in my life than men.

But try getting my old-fashioned family to understand that. They’ve been on my case about my perpetual singleness, and I’m tired of it. Maybe the right date to an upcoming family wedding will get them off my back …

Sebastian is superficially impressive enough to wow my family, and there’s zero chance of real feelings developing from this fake relationship.

Not even if we do share the same taste in books and have surprisingly insightful and interesting conversations.

Not even if our banter is starting to become fun and addictive.

Not even if the kisses he gives me for show start to take my breath away … or if we start spending time together even when no one’s watching … or if he starts buying us copies of the same book to read together …

Uh oh. I might be falling in love with the guy I’m supposed to hate.

In the Net is a full-length hockey romance novel with plenty of steam, no cheating, lots of banter, and a guaranteed HEA ending!



academic rivals to loversfake relationshiphe takes care of her when she's sickone bed tropeno 3rd act breakupdual POV

Genres: Hockey, Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Fake Dating, Sports, Enemies To Lovers

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2025

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I do like cocky men

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I am SO glad I decided to continue with this series because I contemplated moving on to something different after the last book, and this brought back the airplane book vibes the first books had that I was looking for. Was it cheesy? Yes. Was it unrealistic? Yes. Was it repetitive? Yes. And if there’s one thing about Lyssa Lemire it’s that she’s going to introduce a plot thread as if it’s a big thing but then will pretty much ignore it. And you know what? I don’t care, it was fun, okay?? Let a girl LIVE.

Sebastian and Harper were v cute and I love a rivals fake dating plot, even more so where they refuse to admit they’re both in love with each other!! Now give me Jamie’s book IMMEDIATELY, I need to read about my sweet golden retriever boy and the black cat girl he’s crushing on!!

[Vedika]

I really want a book for jamie

[livia mayfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why are these books not longer.

[Ashley Pena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow Burn!

Not a lot of hockey in this book. Or as much interaction with their friends. Lots of traveling and schoolwork though. It could use more plot. Spice level 🌶️🌶️🌶️.

[Sadan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sebastian & Harper

[Sierra · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Tbh at the start I was not an enjoyer of Sebastian’s cookie but this book was amazing. Some grammatical errors like “me and Sevastian” should be “Sebastian and I” or something but I think it’s self published and I’m sure it’s not easy but it did take me out a little I mean I am reading a book still. But anyways he starts off disgustingly cocky but ends up being the cutest romantic. Also I liked how Harper was head strung but not a dick main character. They had amazing chemistry from being friends when they were kids to rivals as adults. The Paris trip was such a unique edition when he takes care of her🥹. Then when she does w him, although I would’ve liked to see how things were at the end w Bryce I feel like he comes to the rager in the middle then we don’t hear of Bryce again. Anyways super romantic and SO FUNNY. I was constantly lol and I loved how proud he was of her the whole thing was so well done.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was written like a wattpad book except not even the fun kind with a ton of spice because they didn’t even do anything until 75% through. also when they did do something it wasn’t even hate sex I was expecting hate sex. nonetheless, it was a cute story. I wish we got to see more of the old side characters though. I like how she set up the new characters books. I have a feeling this series isn’t going to end any time soon and even though it’s not my favorite I still enjoy it a lot. I’m excited for Jamie’s book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5

[Larrisa Crary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. I was waiting for this one! I'm just slightly disappointed...

I felt like the ending was so rushed, to be honest, but I loved it no matter what. I loved the banter they had, and even though there were a few spicy scenes, they were worth it!

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

They definitely breakup after this book

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Molly (hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

good enemies to lovers and the slow burn was slooowww!

[Tiffany Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Super quick, lighthearted, cutesy read. Wasn’t my favorite in the series but enjoyable all the same as a nice little hockey romance.

[Gabriella୨ৎ (semi-ia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱

𝟐 ✩

꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
No thank you, I did not like this one bit. I’m not bothering with a full review, so here are my thoughts broken down.

My negatives towards In The Net:
➼ It was so boring despite being such a short book.
➼ The mmc was so cocky and full of himself, with an ego bigger than Megamind’s head.
➼ In the sex scenes, manhood, rod, and member were used.
➼ There were hardly any scenes or mentions of hockey–this book is literally a hockey romance.
➼ The epilogue…
➼ In the first half of the book, I hated the mmc, and then suddenly he did something kind and thoughtful and there were a lot of conflicting feelings towards him in the end (I still don’t really like him).

My positives towards In The Net:
➼ The mmc didn’t immediately talk about her body at the start–actually was enamoured by her hair more than anything.
➼ The rekindling of friendship.
➼ Jamie (love that sweet guy with my entire heart).

━━━

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 6/4/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 6/4/2026

-𝓖

[MEL GORDON · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best yet of the series. Sebastian and Harper are just cute little smarty pants that love a quick sarcastic comment and I loved them.

Childhood friends to ‘enemies’ to lovers all via fake dating.
Fuck boy hockey player x academic FMC

Only issue was the ending felt very abrupt after a lot of back and forth and repetitive storyline throughout the middle.

[Zahra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The beginning icked me out too much for me to give it a higher rating

[Mol · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I think was my favourite book of the series ! I just love an enemies to lovers trope and I have been waiting for this book since I first introduced to them

[Ipsa Uprety · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of these books either have plot holes, no plot, or both. (granted, the fourth one had some at least)

[Kaitie Conrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute!

[Avani · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7/5
The book just got less and less interesting and the characters were barely enemies in the beginning

[liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic, I wish something more happened in Paris.

[serenity Falcon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Their entire relationship was based on how physical they were. Yes this was a 300 page book but it still felt so rushed. Apparently they went through their entire relationship with out and conflict, which was very unrealistic. The last "I love you" scene, gross. Safe to say, I was mostly disappointed.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

hot nerd? ugh
and such a lighten-heart (?) book.
no owd
now 3rd act break-up
like everything wont make you anxious like straight to the point

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Sina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 50% of the book really had me hooked! Was sitting there thinking that this might be a new author for me to read, but I might have jinxed myself a little. The start was really good, the banter was good, the plot was good, I was just generally enjoying myself! There was a few things here and there that kind of felt a bit off; like constantly having the mc’s remind themselves (and the readers) that they’re supposed to hate/dislike each other, but kind of overlooked it thinking it’d just get better.
The repetition of words kept being overdone, and the book went from a enjoyable 4 star to a 2.5 star because of that alone.
I don’t need to be reminded that the MCs are each others «fake boyfriend/girlfriend» all the time. It feels like this book should be edited some more.
I also do miss character development. The MMC from the start is painted in a «cocky, arrogant» way but alot of him and what he does in the book never gets answers.
The story was packed with stuff, which felt at times a little unnessesary.
I do however give credit where credit’s due; the slow burn and banter was really good! I adored the FMC and MMC as well as their relationship, but I felt like the story and writing made it a bit of a miss for me.

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

[Natasha White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise and the characters in this story, I’m sang the writing felt so choppy and rushed but dragged on.. wanted to love it

[keely amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one is my favourite out the series, enemies to lovers! yesss thank you ❤️

[evie ✧˖ ° · Rating 3 out of 5]

didn’t LOVE it as much as the last one but was still very good !

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for the helping when sick scenes

[julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

bingeable? yes. will i remember this story a month from now? probably not