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The Kennedy Rule
Twenty more minutes. That’s all I have left to prove that Connor Kennedy is no better than me. Again.
Captain of his team, the privileged son of a hockey legend, Connor Kennedy is the league’s golden boy. And the one player who can always get under my skin. Our rivalry has been building for years, and when we’re forced to room together as Olympic teammates, I can feel the tension between us reach boiling point.
The world might see me as hockey’s most feared enforcer, Alaska’s angriest export, but in our room each night after practice, I can’t maintain my facade.
Now, I can’t get Connor out of my mind for another reason, and this obsession could ruin us both.
But one thing I know for some rules are made to be broken.
A steamy rivals-to-lovers MM romance featuring Olympic pressure, locker room loyalty, and the kind of love that conquers all, even when the whole world is watching. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid, Sarina Bowen, and Tal Bauer.
Captain of his team, the privileged son of a hockey legend, Connor Kennedy is the league’s golden boy. And the one player who can always get under my skin. Our rivalry has been building for years, and when we’re forced to room together as Olympic teammates, I can feel the tension between us reach boiling point.
The world might see me as hockey’s most feared enforcer, Alaska’s angriest export, but in our room each night after practice, I can’t maintain my facade.
Now, I can’t get Connor out of my mind for another reason, and this obsession could ruin us both.
But one thing I know for some rules are made to be broken.
A steamy rivals-to-lovers MM romance featuring Olympic pressure, locker room loyalty, and the kind of love that conquers all, even when the whole world is watching. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid, Sarina Bowen, and Tal Bauer.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2025
507 people are currently reading
1225 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Carmichael
3 books44 followersK. C. Carmichael is an American author who writes romantic comedies. She is an ex hairstylist who spent her time behind the chair not only styling her clients' hair but also listening to their stories and sharing her own observations about the beauty and hilarity of life and love. She lives in Chicago where she holds two controversial opinions about her beloved city; that winter is the superior season, and the actual Chicago style pizza is pan pizza cut into squares for easy sharing. When not writing, she can be found enjoying some ice time at her local rink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
October 12, 2025
"Is he worth risking your career over?"
"Yes. He is."
To the actual press😩
Shane Hollander, you will begin to cough in three days.
Me after reading romance for 18 years: I hate clichés.
Also me when they kiss at center ice even though it's going to fuck up their lives:🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Objectively dumb decisions make for great romance. Forever a fan of two MCs burning it all to the ground to fight for their love when deep down I'm thinking... It's almost 8am. Daylight awaits. What now?
Like —these two absolutely rushed into things. Theoretically, they've known each other for seven years, give or take, and that's if we're counting one MC religiously checking the other into the boards every time they share the ice.
Realistically, they've only known each other for three weeks.
But they're making major life changing decisions at the rate of two decisions per erection and I don't hate it😂
They can have a little delusion. As a treat.
I ALMOST had a problem with the way their problems resolve themselves. The villain is too ridiculous and seems to have more power and reach than I imagine he would irl, but the problems he causes fix themselves too quickly and too neatly. It's almost comical.
But will I complain that two queer kids caught a few breaks? Nope. Seemed obvious to me that the villain couldn't really get away with it, but the stakes seemed real enough to the MCs so that was sufficient angst for me.
I'd still say this is pretty fluffy, and I'm surprised that I don't mean that in a bad way.
They make a good effort at bringing the heat, though.
Eye fucking each other (as straight team co-captains do, nothing to see here, folks) so thoroughly that a friend has to walk up to one of them and basically say, 'Please can you just fuck him already and put an end to the yearning? Like, at this point I can tell you're not straight, just fuck him, okay? For all our sanity. 💀?Check.
Terrorizing Team USA with aggressively loud sex noises when pretty much everyone thought they'd fight like cats, given their history? Check.
Real boost for team cohesion. Had everyone thinking 'well, if these two can get along THAT well, then maybe we do have a shot at working as a team, after all.'
So I guess there's a case to be made for coming out to your team, but using sex sounds and not words.
Oh, the cocks in this one kept 'growing'.
"You know I'm not fragile. I can handle you. I WANT to handle you."
Anyway.
Yes, things got handled. The dicks. The villain. The reckless spur of the moment decisions.
"Yes. He is."
To the actual press😩
Shane Hollander, you will begin to cough in three days.
Me after reading romance for 18 years: I hate clichés.
Also me when they kiss at center ice even though it's going to fuck up their lives:🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Objectively dumb decisions make for great romance. Forever a fan of two MCs burning it all to the ground to fight for their love when deep down I'm thinking... It's almost 8am. Daylight awaits. What now?
Like —these two absolutely rushed into things. Theoretically, they've known each other for seven years, give or take, and that's if we're counting one MC religiously checking the other into the boards every time they share the ice.
Realistically, they've only known each other for three weeks.
But they're making major life changing decisions at the rate of two decisions per erection and I don't hate it😂
They can have a little delusion. As a treat.
I ALMOST had a problem with the way their problems resolve themselves. The villain is too ridiculous and seems to have more power and reach than I imagine he would irl, but the problems he causes fix themselves too quickly and too neatly. It's almost comical.
But will I complain that two queer kids caught a few breaks? Nope. Seemed obvious to me that the villain couldn't really get away with it, but the stakes seemed real enough to the MCs so that was sufficient angst for me.
I'd still say this is pretty fluffy, and I'm surprised that I don't mean that in a bad way.
They make a good effort at bringing the heat, though.
Eye fucking each other (as straight team co-captains do, nothing to see here, folks) so thoroughly that a friend has to walk up to one of them and basically say, 'Please can you just fuck him already and put an end to the yearning? Like, at this point I can tell you're not straight, just fuck him, okay? For all our sanity. 💀?Check.
Terrorizing Team USA with aggressively loud sex noises when pretty much everyone thought they'd fight like cats, given their history? Check.
Real boost for team cohesion. Had everyone thinking 'well, if these two can get along THAT well, then maybe we do have a shot at working as a team, after all.'
So I guess there's a case to be made for coming out to your team, but using sex sounds and not words.
Oh, the cocks in this one kept 'growing'.
"You know I'm not fragile. I can handle you. I WANT to handle you."
Anyway.
Yes, things got handled. The dicks. The villain. The reckless spur of the moment decisions.
November 5, 2025
5 Stars
In The Kennedy Rule, sparks fly between rival NHL players Gavin and Connor, after they’re both chosen to compete on the US Olympic ice hockey team, where forced proximity as roommates results in a whirlwind romance that has both men facing some big hurdles in their personal and professional lives.
This story was right up my alley, not going to lie. Already a pretty huge fangirl of a good M/M hockey trope and a rivals-to-lovers couple dynamic, something in the telling of Gavin’s and Connor’s fast-moving romance had me hooked from the start, speeding through the pages like woman possessed.
It’s only light on the rivals element, to be fair, and their transition from opposition players, to teammates, to friends, to lovers all happened over the span of a few short weeks, but I found the whole thing ridiculously charming and hot and addictive, in the most enjoyable of ways.
There’s some melodrama here, in the form of a narcissistic and controlling father (Connor’s) that had my hackles rising and my annoyance at the recently overused “evil parent” trope, but I was able to take it all in stride because of how I loved ALL the other characters and the impressively unwavering connection between Gavin and Connor.
Basically, a romance like this, that has all the conflict pretty largely occurring EXTERNAL to the relationship at hand, is exactly my reading vibe in recent years. Gavin and Connor’s new-but-solid bond was refreshing to see, focusing less on internal relationship issues and more on strong communication, loyalty, and “you’re it for me” levels of love and commitment.
This is only the second book I’ve read by K.C. Carmichael, but I’m officially a fan after this offering, now eager to see what she delivers next in her growing M/M romance book catalogue.
***A special thanks to the author and the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In The Kennedy Rule, sparks fly between rival NHL players Gavin and Connor, after they’re both chosen to compete on the US Olympic ice hockey team, where forced proximity as roommates results in a whirlwind romance that has both men facing some big hurdles in their personal and professional lives.
This story was right up my alley, not going to lie. Already a pretty huge fangirl of a good M/M hockey trope and a rivals-to-lovers couple dynamic, something in the telling of Gavin’s and Connor’s fast-moving romance had me hooked from the start, speeding through the pages like woman possessed.
It’s only light on the rivals element, to be fair, and their transition from opposition players, to teammates, to friends, to lovers all happened over the span of a few short weeks, but I found the whole thing ridiculously charming and hot and addictive, in the most enjoyable of ways.
There’s some melodrama here, in the form of a narcissistic and controlling father (Connor’s) that had my hackles rising and my annoyance at the recently overused “evil parent” trope, but I was able to take it all in stride because of how I loved ALL the other characters and the impressively unwavering connection between Gavin and Connor.
Basically, a romance like this, that has all the conflict pretty largely occurring EXTERNAL to the relationship at hand, is exactly my reading vibe in recent years. Gavin and Connor’s new-but-solid bond was refreshing to see, focusing less on internal relationship issues and more on strong communication, loyalty, and “you’re it for me” levels of love and commitment.
This is only the second book I’ve read by K.C. Carmichael, but I’m officially a fan after this offering, now eager to see what she delivers next in her growing M/M romance book catalogue.
***A special thanks to the author and the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
This was correctly categorized as rivals to lovers; sometimes, all these books say enemies when they are barely rivals. In this case, Connor and Gavin are rivals *just because* they play on opposite teams, and they have to play against each other, but there is no real animosity between them.
I've read my fair share of Hockey romances, and I do have to point out that this one follows some of the same patterns, but what this book has different from the majority is that it is set up during the Winter Olympics, so that created a sort of different dynamic instead of them just wanting to win the Stanley Cup.
Connor and Gavin are both secretly gay, because again, homophobia in sports is no joke. Because of plot reasons, they end up becoming roommates on their way to the Olympics, and feelings ensue. Gavin was adorably grumpy but soft with Connor, and Connor just wanted Gavin to take care of him.
As with all good hockey romances, there was a villain here too, Connor's dad was even worse than the evil Commissioner in The Long Game, and somehow, also had more power it was a bit over the top but still dramatic enough. The team dynamics were amazing, and I would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I've read my fair share of Hockey romances, and I do have to point out that this one follows some of the same patterns, but what this book has different from the majority is that it is set up during the Winter Olympics, so that created a sort of different dynamic instead of them just wanting to win the Stanley Cup.
Connor and Gavin are both secretly gay, because again, homophobia in sports is no joke. Because of plot reasons, they end up becoming roommates on their way to the Olympics, and feelings ensue. Gavin was adorably grumpy but soft with Connor, and Connor just wanted Gavin to take care of him.
As with all good hockey romances, there was a villain here too, Connor's dad was even worse than the evil Commissioner in The Long Game, and somehow, also had more power it was a bit over the top but still dramatic enough. The team dynamics were amazing, and I would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
September 28, 2025
3 ˖⁺‧✮
as much as i liked the hockey part of this book, everything else seemed pretty blunt. the relationship started abruptly and was developing mostly outside of the book. we didn’t get to read about their challenges, feelings or anything inside the bond. sure they seemed sweet and suitable for each other, but i wish we’d get more scenes with them talking and getting to understand their feelings.
i don’t understand the marketing behind enemies to lovers. i hoped that further into the book they’d become enemies but they never did. they were always lovers😭 why saying enemies to lovers? because of the first 3 chapters? they weren’t friends but also definitely not enemies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an arc.
as much as i liked the hockey part of this book, everything else seemed pretty blunt. the relationship started abruptly and was developing mostly outside of the book. we didn’t get to read about their challenges, feelings or anything inside the bond. sure they seemed sweet and suitable for each other, but i wish we’d get more scenes with them talking and getting to understand their feelings.
i don’t understand the marketing behind enemies to lovers. i hoped that further into the book they’d become enemies but they never did. they were always lovers😭 why saying enemies to lovers? because of the first 3 chapters? they weren’t friends but also definitely not enemies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an arc.
November 11, 2025
"Now that the water’s been shut off in our hotel room’s shower the unmistakable sound of him whistling a tune is no longer drowned out. There’s probably woodland creatures in there with him, knotting a towel around his waist."
The Kennedy Rule: An addictive rivals-to-lovers MM hockey romance was my first K.C. Carmichael book and I absolutely loved it! I am a sucker for a good MM hockey romance and this book had all my favourite tropes rolled into one gorgeous read! The inner monologues and snarky banter was divine.
I'm hoping this will become a series around the Buffalo Blizzards players and their love interests, but for now this is Gavin and Connor's standalone little piece of ice hockey heaven.
What To Expect:
🏒MM sports romance
🏒Ice hockey goodness
🏒Rivals to lovers
🏒Forced proximity
🏒Room mates
🏒Grumpy/sunshine
🏒Found family
🏒Steamy times
🏒Low angst
🏒HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars 🌟
The Kennedy Rule: An addictive rivals-to-lovers MM hockey romance was my first K.C. Carmichael book and I absolutely loved it! I am a sucker for a good MM hockey romance and this book had all my favourite tropes rolled into one gorgeous read! The inner monologues and snarky banter was divine.
I'm hoping this will become a series around the Buffalo Blizzards players and their love interests, but for now this is Gavin and Connor's standalone little piece of ice hockey heaven.
What To Expect:
🏒MM sports romance
🏒Ice hockey goodness
🏒Rivals to lovers
🏒Forced proximity
🏒Room mates
🏒Grumpy/sunshine
🏒Found family
🏒Steamy times
🏒Low angst
🏒HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars 🌟
October 21, 2025
OTT hockey drama! This had everything but the kitchen sink plotwise, and at times it definitely veered towards being too ridiculous and unbelievable, but I was entertained.
The emotional impact was missing for me though. There were plenty of times where getting to experience how both MCs were feeling would have really added to the story, but the pace was so fast and the external conflicts were so dominating that the emotional connection to the MCs just never happened.
I'd definitely be interested in reading future books in this hockey world though.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review
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HRCYED2: New Releases
The emotional impact was missing for me though. There were plenty of times where getting to experience how both MCs were feeling would have really added to the story, but the pace was so fast and the external conflicts were so dominating that the emotional connection to the MCs just never happened.
I'd definitely be interested in reading future books in this hockey world though.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review
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HRCYED2: New Releases
October 19, 2025
I fear I requested too many arcs expecting them to all be declined.. yeah surprise they were not.
November 10, 2025
As a Heated Rivalry enthusiast, I was really excited to see another rivals-to-lovers hockey romance make its way into the world, but The Kennedy Rule fell flat. Truthfully, its only saving grace was its generous helping of hockey, which is a shame considering that, in theory, it had all of the ingredients to be great.
First and foremost, where was the rivalry? Before playing together on the men's national hockey team during the Olympics, Gavin and Connor played on opposing NHL teams, and, sure, they weren't exactly best friends. Gavin was the enforcer for the Buffalo Blizzard, known for his ample time spent in the penalty box as a result of his willingness to rough up anyone who messed with his teammates. Connor was the NHL's golden boy and the son of a former-player-turned-GM. They bickered a little on the ice, as many players do, but there was never a truly meaningful established rivalry between them. And, as soon as they become teammates and roommates, whatever inkling of a "rivalry" existed immediately disappeared, only to be replaced by an insta-love relationship that had them both ready and willing to throw away their professional hockey careers after a few weeks together. There was no chemistry between them, especially emotionally, and it made their speedrun of a relationship really unsatisfying.
I had similar issues with Connor's father as the antagonist of this story; he was so cartoonishly evil that I found it hard to take him or anything he brought to the story seriously. The fallout from him and later just felt too easily and quickly resolved. The stakes and the tension were never high enough to reel me in and or warrant any emotional investment.
Outside of the story elements, I also struggled with the writing and formatting of the book. I am, admittedly, not a big fan of anything written in the first person, but I probably could have looked past that a little more if there hadn't been multiple POV shifts in each chapter. Gavin and Connor's narrative voices were simply too alike to keep track of whose perspective I was in most of the time. There was also a lot of telling and a lack of showing, which was further emphasized by the way both characters' narrative voices were written as if they were just relaying facts to the reader rather than actually experiencing the story themselves. I never found myself caring about either character because the writing style caused them to feel very emotionally disconnected from the reader.
I'm really bummed to have found this one so disappointing. I do appreciate that K.C. Carmichael seems to know hockey well and included a good amount of it throughout the book, but overall, it just felt like a very outsider take on a queer romance that failed to encapsulate the breadth of the queer experience (while also perpetuating some unfortunate stereotypes) partnered with a lackluster story and subpar writing.
If you're reading this because you're looking for something to fill the Shane and Ilya void, I'd encourage you to look somewhere else.
First and foremost, where was the rivalry? Before playing together on the men's national hockey team during the Olympics, Gavin and Connor played on opposing NHL teams, and, sure, they weren't exactly best friends. Gavin was the enforcer for the Buffalo Blizzard, known for his ample time spent in the penalty box as a result of his willingness to rough up anyone who messed with his teammates. Connor was the NHL's golden boy and the son of a former-player-turned-GM. They bickered a little on the ice, as many players do, but there was never a truly meaningful established rivalry between them. And, as soon as they become teammates and roommates, whatever inkling of a "rivalry" existed immediately disappeared, only to be replaced by an insta-love relationship that had them both ready and willing to throw away their professional hockey careers after a few weeks together. There was no chemistry between them, especially emotionally, and it made their speedrun of a relationship really unsatisfying.
I had similar issues with Connor's father as the antagonist of this story; he was so cartoonishly evil that I found it hard to take him or anything he brought to the story seriously. The fallout from him and later just felt too easily and quickly resolved. The stakes and the tension were never high enough to reel me in and or warrant any emotional investment.
Outside of the story elements, I also struggled with the writing and formatting of the book. I am, admittedly, not a big fan of anything written in the first person, but I probably could have looked past that a little more if there hadn't been multiple POV shifts in each chapter. Gavin and Connor's narrative voices were simply too alike to keep track of whose perspective I was in most of the time. There was also a lot of telling and a lack of showing, which was further emphasized by the way both characters' narrative voices were written as if they were just relaying facts to the reader rather than actually experiencing the story themselves. I never found myself caring about either character because the writing style caused them to feel very emotionally disconnected from the reader.
I'm really bummed to have found this one so disappointing. I do appreciate that K.C. Carmichael seems to know hockey well and included a good amount of it throughout the book, but overall, it just felt like a very outsider take on a queer romance that failed to encapsulate the breadth of the queer experience (while also perpetuating some unfortunate stereotypes) partnered with a lackluster story and subpar writing.
If you're reading this because you're looking for something to fill the Shane and Ilya void, I'd encourage you to look somewhere else.
December 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
December 8, 2025
I've read this same hockey storyline countless times, yet it somehow never gets old. The banter was great, and I appreciated that the characters didn’t get bogged down in unnecessary drama. I’m already excited for the next book in the series!
November 13, 2025
oh no I had so many expectations and all of them have been fucked 🥲🥲
I mean, I am right in the target audience for this, yet it fell really flat. Flat characters, especially Connor, whose only traits are a) his daddy b) his daddy issues c) the fact he's blond and blue eyes d) good at hockey. I mean I need a little more thanks. Gavin was better, but his personality was not delved into as it should have been, especially for someone with a traumatic upbringing. Their relationship made no sense at all from the start, aka it was way too sudden, and since it develops mostly off page, we don't get any kind of development after. I was immensely bored even before these two got to fuck for the first time. Anyway, there's also an unhealthy dose of misogyny sprinkled all over the book, which annoyed me to no end, so... nope.
nopety nope. adios book ✨️✨️
I mean, I am right in the target audience for this, yet it fell really flat. Flat characters, especially Connor, whose only traits are a) his daddy b) his daddy issues c) the fact he's blond and blue eyes d) good at hockey. I mean I need a little more thanks. Gavin was better, but his personality was not delved into as it should have been, especially for someone with a traumatic upbringing. Their relationship made no sense at all from the start, aka it was way too sudden, and since it develops mostly off page, we don't get any kind of development after. I was immensely bored even before these two got to fuck for the first time. Anyway, there's also an unhealthy dose of misogyny sprinkled all over the book, which annoyed me to no end, so... nope.
nopety nope. adios book ✨️✨️
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November 22, 2025
4 ⭐️ When you fall for THE one you've always hated...
To me, the whole enemies-to-lovers trope has always been a bittersweet highlight in an already strong plot. This book, however, focuses mostly on showing- and occasionally telling us about- their fights on the ice to let us know just how much they hate each other. Most of the story builds toward the lovers aspect. I know some readers like to see overt hatred on the page, but for me, this was more than enough.
At the beginning of the book, once they step off the ice, they almost stop existing for each other-until forced proximity arises when both join the Olympic National Team. As they begin to meet and truly get to know one another, the sparks start flying.
I adored the way they respected each other, even when they didn't understand the other's perspective, or even when they played for opposing teams and their main goal seemed to be to defeat the other.
A major trigger warning: One of the male main characters has an exceedingly homophobic family, who would rather see him crushed -physically or emotionally- than have him come out and fall in love with another man. I appreciated that there was never any attempt to redeem them. Most of what this person does is for personal gain, trying to force everyone into his worldview. So, yeah... not a fan.
The other MMC's parent is extremely supportive, but it's also painful and surprising to read about when someone who has never received support finally does. Being respected and loved not despite, but because of who you are, was both beautiful and gut-wrenching.
This book is mostly fluffy and sweet, but there are some hard-hitting moments!
🌶🌶🌶/5 - The spice is gooooorgeous! There's a lot of intimacy and rapport built in those scenes, which I thought was handled so well.
To me, the whole enemies-to-lovers trope has always been a bittersweet highlight in an already strong plot. This book, however, focuses mostly on showing- and occasionally telling us about- their fights on the ice to let us know just how much they hate each other. Most of the story builds toward the lovers aspect. I know some readers like to see overt hatred on the page, but for me, this was more than enough.
At the beginning of the book, once they step off the ice, they almost stop existing for each other-until forced proximity arises when both join the Olympic National Team. As they begin to meet and truly get to know one another, the sparks start flying.
I adored the way they respected each other, even when they didn't understand the other's perspective, or even when they played for opposing teams and their main goal seemed to be to defeat the other.
A major trigger warning: One of the male main characters has an exceedingly homophobic family, who would rather see him crushed -physically or emotionally- than have him come out and fall in love with another man. I appreciated that there was never any attempt to redeem them. Most of what this person does is for personal gain, trying to force everyone into his worldview. So, yeah... not a fan.
The other MMC's parent is extremely supportive, but it's also painful and surprising to read about when someone who has never received support finally does. Being respected and loved not despite, but because of who you are, was both beautiful and gut-wrenching.
This book is mostly fluffy and sweet, but there are some hard-hitting moments!
🌶🌶🌶/5 - The spice is gooooorgeous! There's a lot of intimacy and rapport built in those scenes, which I thought was handled so well.
December 24, 2025
The first half of this book was so much fun. The getting to know each other, Connor coming out of his shell, Gavin being a great team leader, the shy flirting, the first kisses. SO CUTE.
But the holyfuckingdrama. The asshole father trope was pushed way beyond any realistic level. I can’t think of anyone, let alone a hockey guy, having that kid of power. The whole sequence of events after the gold medal game made absolutely no sense.
Also? Is anyone really rooting for Team USA? I just wanted them to lose 😭😭😭
But the holyfuckingdrama. The asshole father trope was pushed way beyond any realistic level. I can’t think of anyone, let alone a hockey guy, having that kid of power. The whole sequence of events after the gold medal game made absolutely no sense.
Also? Is anyone really rooting for Team USA? I just wanted them to lose 😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Siento que la escritura y el libro no son taaan malos pero no soy para nada amante del fast burn e instalove, lo desteto. Encima que en 20 días pasen de ser “rivales” a decirse te amo no me lo creí para NADA, te lo creo en meses pero 20 DÍAS!!!! Encima la química se queda muy corta para los personajes, tampoco la sentí, como que dijeron que se aman, harían todo por ellos pero me pareció todo muy superficial.
Otra cosa que no me gustó fue que hay MUCHAS referencias a Heated Rivalry, cosas que la gente odió de HR y TLG que la autora leyó aquí las utilizó para su bien cambiándolas y haciendo un “mejor libro”.
Siento que la escritura y el libro no son taaan malos pero no soy para nada amante del fast burn e instalove, lo desteto. Encima que en 20 días pasen de ser “rivales” a decirse te amo no me lo creí para NADA, te lo creo en meses pero 20 DÍAS!!!! Encima la química se queda muy corta para los personajes, tampoco la sentí, como que dijeron que se aman, harían todo por ellos pero me pareció todo muy superficial.
Otra cosa que no me gustó fue que hay MUCHAS referencias a Heated Rivalry, cosas que la gente odió de HR y TLG que la autora leyó aquí las utilizó para su bien cambiándolas y haciendo un “mejor libro”.
December 24, 2025
They were no Shane & Ilya but it filled the hole I suppose (pun fully intended)
November 27, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was not anything special. The mm hockey genre is already over saturated, and this book failed to do anything new.
We have the supposed enemies to lovers which was more of mild rivals, we have the big strong enforcer and the smaller, blushy, and hairless love interest, and lastly we have *instalove*.
The pov changes were sudden and choppy happening multiple times in a chapter and cutting off what could have been further character insight.
Connors father was a clear cartoonish plot device there to solely drive a plot and make the reader sympathetic to Connor.
I would not recommend.
This was not anything special. The mm hockey genre is already over saturated, and this book failed to do anything new.
We have the supposed enemies to lovers which was more of mild rivals, we have the big strong enforcer and the smaller, blushy, and hairless love interest, and lastly we have *instalove*.
The pov changes were sudden and choppy happening multiple times in a chapter and cutting off what could have been further character insight.
Connors father was a clear cartoonish plot device there to solely drive a plot and make the reader sympathetic to Connor.
I would not recommend.
September 28, 2025
Connor and Gavin I knew I loved you 🥹🥹🥹🩷🩷🩷
Thank you so much @stormbooks_co for the advanced copy to review!
Having previously read @kccarmichael_’s work, I just *knew* I would love this book and what do you know… I was absolutely correct.
Connor and Gavin my little rivals to lovers baby angels … the golden boy and the enforcer. The sweetheart and the man who hides his soft heart under a fierce protective streak. The cutest cuties to ever be cute.
Couple of things - I absolutely ADORED the banter in this book, not only between our main characters but all of our side characters too. Tavish and Bouchard especially, those two were hilarious (please say one of them is next for the next book in the series!!!!). Second, Gavin’s dad had me in love with him from the jump. He was a fierce protector as well, who immediately welcomed Connor and praised him for seeing Gavin’s heart. Third, the friendships in this book were incredible. Fourth, the strength and unity of the team when one person is outed was amazing. Fifth, I friggen LOVED the coach.
Honestly I could go on for hours about my love of this book but I’m gonna insist you read it for yourself and want to punch Connor Sr with me. The ending tore at my heartstrings and made me so incredibly hopeful for a future of queer people in sports. I am just so grateful for books like this.
Thank you so much @stormbooks_co for the advanced copy to review!
Having previously read @kccarmichael_’s work, I just *knew* I would love this book and what do you know… I was absolutely correct.
Connor and Gavin my little rivals to lovers baby angels … the golden boy and the enforcer. The sweetheart and the man who hides his soft heart under a fierce protective streak. The cutest cuties to ever be cute.
Couple of things - I absolutely ADORED the banter in this book, not only between our main characters but all of our side characters too. Tavish and Bouchard especially, those two were hilarious (please say one of them is next for the next book in the series!!!!). Second, Gavin’s dad had me in love with him from the jump. He was a fierce protector as well, who immediately welcomed Connor and praised him for seeing Gavin’s heart. Third, the friendships in this book were incredible. Fourth, the strength and unity of the team when one person is outed was amazing. Fifth, I friggen LOVED the coach.
Honestly I could go on for hours about my love of this book but I’m gonna insist you read it for yourself and want to punch Connor Sr with me. The ending tore at my heartstrings and made me so incredibly hopeful for a future of queer people in sports. I am just so grateful for books like this.
October 23, 2025
Note: I was granted access to an e-ARC of the book by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
This is my first book of K.C. Charmichael’s, and what an intro it makes! Definitely up there as one of my favorite sport romances or queer romances I’ve read in recent years.
I am above all a character-centric-narrative reader, and romance is in my opinion where this is especially important — if the characters don’t have a strong-enough presence, the romance falls flat.
The Kennedy Rule had me hooked on the MCs and ready to face off with anyone who threatened them within just a few pages, which is something that hardly ever happens to me. But Connor and Gavin and their dynamic just jumped off the page and had me hurtling head first into this story and not reemerging until it was done.
And what a journey it was! Not only were all the characters (including the side characters and main antagonist) written so realistically I could almost believe they are inspired by very specific real people, but the story has a verisimilitude that just reels you in and makes you even more staunchly supportive of the MCs in their challenges, overall journey, and relationships development.
I have very minor qualms, such as a small continuity issue at the beginning and a couple of the descriptions of their trip to Italy (I’m Italian born and bred, so I’m prone to nitpick when my country is portrayed!) but I really, really enjoyed this so I’m giving it 4.5 STARS and really recommend it for those who want a sport romance with rivals to lovers and a heartwarming story with some tension.
Looking forward to seeing who the next book focuses on!
This is my first book of K.C. Charmichael’s, and what an intro it makes! Definitely up there as one of my favorite sport romances or queer romances I’ve read in recent years.
I am above all a character-centric-narrative reader, and romance is in my opinion where this is especially important — if the characters don’t have a strong-enough presence, the romance falls flat.
The Kennedy Rule had me hooked on the MCs and ready to face off with anyone who threatened them within just a few pages, which is something that hardly ever happens to me. But Connor and Gavin and their dynamic just jumped off the page and had me hurtling head first into this story and not reemerging until it was done.
And what a journey it was! Not only were all the characters (including the side characters and main antagonist) written so realistically I could almost believe they are inspired by very specific real people, but the story has a verisimilitude that just reels you in and makes you even more staunchly supportive of the MCs in their challenges, overall journey, and relationships development.
I have very minor qualms, such as a small continuity issue at the beginning and a couple of the descriptions of their trip to Italy (I’m Italian born and bred, so I’m prone to nitpick when my country is portrayed!) but I really, really enjoyed this so I’m giving it 4.5 STARS and really recommend it for those who want a sport romance with rivals to lovers and a heartwarming story with some tension.
Looking forward to seeing who the next book focuses on!
October 10, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was pretty good but it was also pretty basic. Definitely a good palette cleanser book but not necessarily something that holds up super well on its own. I would recommend this to anyone who likes hockey romance but this isn’t a book that stood out super strong to me.
September 26, 2025
If you’re looking for an adorable MM hockey romance with a little bit of angst and flirting, and a lot of love, this is it!
I absolutely loved this. The angst at the beginning moving into an adorably swoon worthy romance was just *chef’s kiss*. The MMCs were amazing and they really complete each other in the perfect way. The side characters were great, funny and supportive. I love how everyone fought for Connor and Gavin, it made me tear up a little bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this fantastic e-ARC!
I absolutely loved this. The angst at the beginning moving into an adorably swoon worthy romance was just *chef’s kiss*. The MMCs were amazing and they really complete each other in the perfect way. The side characters were great, funny and supportive. I love how everyone fought for Connor and Gavin, it made me tear up a little bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read this fantastic e-ARC!
September 26, 2025
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for the good hockey scenes
I will start with the fact that I really wanted to like this book as I am a big gay hockey fan. And I will say, the author clearly knows about hockey and the hockey game scenes were definitely the most well written and entertaining parts of the book. I feel like a lot of hockey romances shy away from the hockey aspect--but that's the part I want to read about!!! So I appreciate that this book did it well.
Now. Everything else.
This book switches perspectives between Gavin (grumpy/protective/goon character) and Connor (one of those dogs wearing an anxiety vest lol) at warp speed. Which was incredibly annoying. I like double perspectives, but you have to give enough time in one perspective to make the reader excited and anticipatory to find out what the other character is thinking. This book just gives you immediate gratification, which gets old really fast. Also, the characters feel like they are trying to explain to the reader what's going on, rather than us the reader, being inside their perspective. I felt very disconnected from both of the characters because of this. The only character I ended up really liking was the goalie, Bouchard.
The character archetypes ended up feeling like caricatures--which was not helped by the dialogue that made me physically cringe at points. The worst character in the whole book is Connor's dad ---------- potential spoilers incoming ------ The whole time I was reading, I was trying to figure out why Connor's dad hated Gavin so much. It felt out of nowhere. At first I thought, oh he must have caught Connor and Gavin together at the hockey camp, and that's why he hates Gavin, because he's distracting/defiling his son etc. But then that wasn't revealed, so I thought oh, it must be because Gavin was ranked higher, or got into a more prestigious hockey program at some point, and he's been holding this grudge that the spot his son would've deserved was taken away by Gavin, but that didn't happen. Then I was like, well maybe he's just superrrr conservative and religious and just hates gay people. But that wasn't the case either?!?!?!? There was no reason for Connor's father to have this extreme hatred of Gavin. Supposedly it's because he's poor and from Alaska???? Like what ???? I was literally scraping my brain to find any other reason. This was just ridiculous and didn't make any sense at all. Also, why is there so much Alaska hate in this book :(((((
The sex scenes gave me the ick. I am totally unconvinced that someone would be okay bottoming for the first time ever before a super important olympic game. Like, huh? There was also a weird lack of social media or phones. Which might be a silly thing to comment on, but I feel like how athletes interact with social media is a really interesting part of their lives and shapes their personalities. Maybe it's the fanfic reader in me, but I love seeing social media incorporation, especially because it's so important to being a pro athlete now (my favorite example is probably OMGCP--the best to do it tbh).
I guess it's nice everything was wrapped up all neatly with a happy ending, but I didn't end up feeling satisfied because there was too much that was annoying me over all. If we had 50% more hockey scenes, I may have been able to overlook some of the other parts I wasn't enjoying.
This review is possible by the generously provided ARC from NetGalley--thank you!
I will start with the fact that I really wanted to like this book as I am a big gay hockey fan. And I will say, the author clearly knows about hockey and the hockey game scenes were definitely the most well written and entertaining parts of the book. I feel like a lot of hockey romances shy away from the hockey aspect--but that's the part I want to read about!!! So I appreciate that this book did it well.
Now. Everything else.
This book switches perspectives between Gavin (grumpy/protective/goon character) and Connor (one of those dogs wearing an anxiety vest lol) at warp speed. Which was incredibly annoying. I like double perspectives, but you have to give enough time in one perspective to make the reader excited and anticipatory to find out what the other character is thinking. This book just gives you immediate gratification, which gets old really fast. Also, the characters feel like they are trying to explain to the reader what's going on, rather than us the reader, being inside their perspective. I felt very disconnected from both of the characters because of this. The only character I ended up really liking was the goalie, Bouchard.
The character archetypes ended up feeling like caricatures--which was not helped by the dialogue that made me physically cringe at points. The worst character in the whole book is Connor's dad ---------- potential spoilers incoming ------ The whole time I was reading, I was trying to figure out why Connor's dad hated Gavin so much. It felt out of nowhere. At first I thought, oh he must have caught Connor and Gavin together at the hockey camp, and that's why he hates Gavin, because he's distracting/defiling his son etc. But then that wasn't revealed, so I thought oh, it must be because Gavin was ranked higher, or got into a more prestigious hockey program at some point, and he's been holding this grudge that the spot his son would've deserved was taken away by Gavin, but that didn't happen. Then I was like, well maybe he's just superrrr conservative and religious and just hates gay people. But that wasn't the case either?!?!?!? There was no reason for Connor's father to have this extreme hatred of Gavin. Supposedly it's because he's poor and from Alaska???? Like what ???? I was literally scraping my brain to find any other reason. This was just ridiculous and didn't make any sense at all. Also, why is there so much Alaska hate in this book :(((((
The sex scenes gave me the ick. I am totally unconvinced that someone would be okay bottoming for the first time ever before a super important olympic game. Like, huh? There was also a weird lack of social media or phones. Which might be a silly thing to comment on, but I feel like how athletes interact with social media is a really interesting part of their lives and shapes their personalities. Maybe it's the fanfic reader in me, but I love seeing social media incorporation, especially because it's so important to being a pro athlete now (my favorite example is probably OMGCP--the best to do it tbh).
I guess it's nice everything was wrapped up all neatly with a happy ending, but I didn't end up feeling satisfied because there was too much that was annoying me over all. If we had 50% more hockey scenes, I may have been able to overlook some of the other parts I wasn't enjoying.
This review is possible by the generously provided ARC from NetGalley--thank you!
November 2, 2025
My first K.C. Carmichael book and it won’t be my last! I tore through The Kennedy Rule - I was totally invested and couldn’t wait to see how things played out for Connor and Gavin.
Connor Kennedy and Gavin Marshal have somehow become rivals on the ice but when they’re both picked for the US Olympic hockey team, they have to figure out how to play together, room together and captain the team together. These two are an unlikely pair - Connor is the golden boy of the NHL and Gavin is the grumpy enforcer - but their grumpy/sunshine dynamic was fun to read. Once they set their differences aside and opened up to each other, Gavin’s protective instincts began to extend to Connor both on and off the ice. While Gavin had a rough upbringing in Alaska before he made it big in hockey, Connor’s life seemed picture perfect even though it was quite the opposite.
I really enjoyed this book - it was an interesting take on a hockey romance and the Olympic team dynamics were fun to read. Like everyone else who reads this book, I absolutely detest Connor’s father and everything he did to him and to Gavin, but I’m so glad they both had Gavin’s father, Coach Chris, his wife and all of the Olympic team members behind them to help make things right.
Right now this is a standalone, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more Buffalo Blizzards stories to come!
Connor Kennedy and Gavin Marshal have somehow become rivals on the ice but when they’re both picked for the US Olympic hockey team, they have to figure out how to play together, room together and captain the team together. These two are an unlikely pair - Connor is the golden boy of the NHL and Gavin is the grumpy enforcer - but their grumpy/sunshine dynamic was fun to read. Once they set their differences aside and opened up to each other, Gavin’s protective instincts began to extend to Connor both on and off the ice. While Gavin had a rough upbringing in Alaska before he made it big in hockey, Connor’s life seemed picture perfect even though it was quite the opposite.
I really enjoyed this book - it was an interesting take on a hockey romance and the Olympic team dynamics were fun to read. Like everyone else who reads this book, I absolutely detest Connor’s father and everything he did to him and to Gavin, but I’m so glad they both had Gavin’s father, Coach Chris, his wife and all of the Olympic team members behind them to help make things right.
Right now this is a standalone, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more Buffalo Blizzards stories to come!
December 10, 2025
So I went into this book blind as I've never read this author nor have I seen anyone talk about it. I saw tha it was MM, hockey, and rivals to lovers and dived in.
I'm really glad I did as I just loved Connor and Gavin and their story. Their chemistry on and off the ice was just perfect and they both wanted each other and never looked back once they crossed that line. Spice 🌶🌶
I'm looking forward to another book and hope that's it's Bouchard because I absolutely fell in love with his character.
I'm really glad I did as I just loved Connor and Gavin and their story. Their chemistry on and off the ice was just perfect and they both wanted each other and never looked back once they crossed that line. Spice 🌶🌶
I'm looking forward to another book and hope that's it's Bouchard because I absolutely fell in love with his character.
November 29, 2025
3.5 cute
dnf
December 9, 2025dnf @ 60% unfortunately this was just hella boring also in what world is this rivals to lovers 😭
November 18, 2025
DNF at 50%. This book gave me some whiplash there at the beginning. It took me some time to get used to the constant POV change. It would have been nice if each character’s POV was at LEAST one whole chapter. Too much back and forth. I would forget who I was reading. Anywho, I would not categorize this as an enemies to lovers story. Also, the characters’ second sexual encounter was a fade to black scene, which was very disappointing.
November 9, 2025
Last time I’m taking recommendations from Twitter
October 27, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book*
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. I did not feel any emotional chemistry between the main characters and the plot moved so fast that there did not seem to be many stakes for the characters.
While this is pitched as a 'enemies to lovers' story, there is so little 'enemies' that the 'lovers' does not feel earned in the way that I wanted it to. The main conflict of the book is an abusive and controlling father figure, but he seems so outrageously evil that even that conflict doesn't feel real.
I love a male/male hockey romance; however, this one did not work for me and just made me want to reread a Rachel Reid for the hundredth time.
Unfortunately, this did not work for me. I did not feel any emotional chemistry between the main characters and the plot moved so fast that there did not seem to be many stakes for the characters.
While this is pitched as a 'enemies to lovers' story, there is so little 'enemies' that the 'lovers' does not feel earned in the way that I wanted it to. The main conflict of the book is an abusive and controlling father figure, but he seems so outrageously evil that even that conflict doesn't feel real.
I love a male/male hockey romance; however, this one did not work for me and just made me want to reread a Rachel Reid for the hundredth time.
October 20, 2025
Grumpy enforcer (Gavin) + sunshine forward (Connor)
Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
This book was an unexpected delight to me. Opening statement is I’m Australian so not completely au fait with all the hockey-isms so if there were inconsistencies there, I’m not your best measure.
I enjoyed that there was actual hockey though, , there was training and playing, and the book occurred just prior to, during, and after the Olympics which gives it a contemporary feel. Often we see sports romances and they’re on a break and there’s next to no actual sport. Not the case here!
Looking at the rivals to lovers, there was a build up however it was clear from the outset these two were attracted to one another so the was an absence of real friction that was heavy enough to carry that early plot. It seemed once Connor was nice to Gavin, Gavin just buckled and was an absolute goner. Lovely for the big man rest assured … but I wanted a little more simmering tension.
Our baddie in the book is Connor’s father who is an all round shit bag, and his mother wasn’t much better. This was balanced against a wholesome, warm relationship we see Gavin and his dad sharing. Aspects of this relationship were really lovely throughout the book and it provided a nice backdrop for flashing out Gavin’s personality and identity. I wanted to see on page what happens to Connor’s dad because the resolution was too swift for how toxic he was!
The intimacy was balanced well with the rest of the story, if a little rushed sometimes. Again, if there was a little longer buildup at the start I think the intimacy then would have been the cherry on top.
In all I enjoyed this one a lot -there’s a forced coming out for one of the characters, so a content warning.
Pick up if you like - Heated Rivalry, Egotistical Puckboy, Iced Out and Gravity.
Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
This book was an unexpected delight to me. Opening statement is I’m Australian so not completely au fait with all the hockey-isms so if there were inconsistencies there, I’m not your best measure.
I enjoyed that there was actual hockey though, , there was training and playing, and the book occurred just prior to, during, and after the Olympics which gives it a contemporary feel. Often we see sports romances and they’re on a break and there’s next to no actual sport. Not the case here!
Looking at the rivals to lovers, there was a build up however it was clear from the outset these two were attracted to one another so the was an absence of real friction that was heavy enough to carry that early plot. It seemed once Connor was nice to Gavin, Gavin just buckled and was an absolute goner. Lovely for the big man rest assured … but I wanted a little more simmering tension.
Our baddie in the book is Connor’s father who is an all round shit bag, and his mother wasn’t much better. This was balanced against a wholesome, warm relationship we see Gavin and his dad sharing. Aspects of this relationship were really lovely throughout the book and it provided a nice backdrop for flashing out Gavin’s personality and identity. I wanted to see on page what happens to Connor’s dad because the resolution was too swift for how toxic he was!
The intimacy was balanced well with the rest of the story, if a little rushed sometimes. Again, if there was a little longer buildup at the start I think the intimacy then would have been the cherry on top.
In all I enjoyed this one a lot -there’s a forced coming out for one of the characters, so a content warning.
Pick up if you like - Heated Rivalry, Egotistical Puckboy, Iced Out and Gravity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2025
THE KENNEDY RULE has everything - hockey rivals, hidden feelings, ride or die besties, an evil villain, and love that's worth fighting for.
Gavin and Connor are the quintessential opposites - enforcer and goal scorer, underdog and golden boy, grumpy and sunshine. I love though that we get a deeper look into how these roles were forged, or mayne why they wear these masks to protect themselves. Status, sexuality, and on ice-persona have been used to determine Gavin and Connor's "value". Together though, they're getting to the heart of what they want as individuals rather than contort themselves for the sake of the league and legacy.
I love that the drama and villain was outside of Gavin and Connor. Yes there is a delicious will-they-won't-they tension between them, but when things get tough it's them against the world. The support they have - unasked for - filled my cup. When toxic family and business try to pull Gavin and Connor apart their loved ones rally around them.
Let me scream a moment also that these two have some of The Best lines. Swoonworthy. Hang it in the Louver. Retire as champion. Epic lines. I was gagged by Gavin's directness. Big "Touch him and die." energy.
I highly recommend THE KENNEDY RULE for hockey romance readers looking for love on a collision course - unstoppable even in the face of insurmountable odds. The book fights back against toxic family, the queerphobic sports industry, sensationalist media. It builds a safe space to live authentically and celebrates relationships that love in all forms. And! Gavin and Connor are hot. Period. Get this book on your hockey romance shelf.
Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advance digital copy to read and review.
Gavin and Connor are the quintessential opposites - enforcer and goal scorer, underdog and golden boy, grumpy and sunshine. I love though that we get a deeper look into how these roles were forged, or mayne why they wear these masks to protect themselves. Status, sexuality, and on ice-persona have been used to determine Gavin and Connor's "value". Together though, they're getting to the heart of what they want as individuals rather than contort themselves for the sake of the league and legacy.
I love that the drama and villain was outside of Gavin and Connor. Yes there is a delicious will-they-won't-they tension between them, but when things get tough it's them against the world. The support they have - unasked for - filled my cup. When toxic family and business try to pull Gavin and Connor apart their loved ones rally around them.
Let me scream a moment also that these two have some of The Best lines. Swoonworthy. Hang it in the Louver. Retire as champion. Epic lines. I was gagged by Gavin's directness. Big "Touch him and die." energy.
I highly recommend THE KENNEDY RULE for hockey romance readers looking for love on a collision course - unstoppable even in the face of insurmountable odds. The book fights back against toxic family, the queerphobic sports industry, sensationalist media. It builds a safe space to live authentically and celebrates relationships that love in all forms. And! Gavin and Connor are hot. Period. Get this book on your hockey romance shelf.
Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advance digital copy to read and review.
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