What do you think?
Rate this book
Rebound: A Spicy Marriage of Convenience Hockey Romance
Lavinia Callahan didn’t intend to make Roman Maddox her rebound.
When his childhood best friend is left at the altar, Roman is there to make things better. For months, he’s there for her however she needs, until one night changes everything. One night, and he goes from eligible bachelor to very unexpected newlywed.
Lavinia Callahan is a three-time Olympic medalist whose PWHL career ended in heartbreak after an injury. She’s always been hockey’s golden girl, but without the game, and fresh off being ditched on her wedding day, she has no idea who she is anymore. She might have millions of followers, she wants to figure out who she actually is, without the cheers of others.
Months later, she heads to Vegas on a girls’ only trip and leaves with the craziest souvenir possible: a husband. She didn’t think she’d be wearing another man’s ring anytime soon, but apparently all it took was a few drinks and a chapel.
The logical thing would be to get an annulment.
But what if staying married actually fixes both of their problems? Roman finally looks like more than just a hothead, and Lavinia can prove she’s worth being loved.
One season. That’s the deal. For one season, they’ll stay married, prove everyone wrong, and then walk away.
Simple… right?
This could be the biggest win of their lives, or the messiest loss yet.
When his childhood best friend is left at the altar, Roman is there to make things better. For months, he’s there for her however she needs, until one night changes everything. One night, and he goes from eligible bachelor to very unexpected newlywed.
Lavinia Callahan is a three-time Olympic medalist whose PWHL career ended in heartbreak after an injury. She’s always been hockey’s golden girl, but without the game, and fresh off being ditched on her wedding day, she has no idea who she is anymore. She might have millions of followers, she wants to figure out who she actually is, without the cheers of others.
Months later, she heads to Vegas on a girls’ only trip and leaves with the craziest souvenir possible: a husband. She didn’t think she’d be wearing another man’s ring anytime soon, but apparently all it took was a few drinks and a chapel.
The logical thing would be to get an annulment.
But what if staying married actually fixes both of their problems? Roman finally looks like more than just a hothead, and Lavinia can prove she’s worth being loved.
One season. That’s the deal. For one season, they’ll stay married, prove everyone wrong, and then walk away.
Simple… right?
This could be the biggest win of their lives, or the messiest loss yet.
522 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2025
84 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
Read
September 28, 2025W.B.
September 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
OH. MY. GOD. I LOVE THIS BOOK. PERIOD. 🏒💍✨
Rebound by Ava Hill has officially converted me into a friends-to-lovers reader, and honestly? I couldn’t have picked a better book to change my mind. This story gave me everything I didn’t know I needed—banter, obsession, found family, and a marriage of convenience in the most chaotic (and romantic) way possible.
Roman, our grumpy MMC with deep family scars, stole my heart from page one. He doesn’t trust easily, but the way he sees Lavinia—obsessed, protective, and utterly in love—had me melting. And Lavinia? A sunshine FMC, former Olympian turned content creator, who radiates warmth, wit, and resilience. Together, they’re absolute perfection.
The Vegas drunken marriage setup, their flirty texts, the hilarious “HoBros” book club (yes, hockey players reading romance!!), and the refreshing lack of a third-act breakup made this book an instant win for me.
I laughed, I swooned, I screamed, and I annotated like crazy. Ava Hill has delivered a hockey romance that’s not just about the game—it’s about healing, family, and finding love where you least expect it. This is 100% going on my re-read shelf, and I need books on the side characters ASAP.
Tropes I devoured:
🏒 Friends to lovers
💍 Marriage of convenience
🔥 He falls first (and hard)
📚 Found family + bromance book club
💘 Hockey player x content creator
Thank you @lovenotespr & Ava Hill for this ARC—I’m obsessed!
OH. MY. GOD. I LOVE THIS BOOK. PERIOD. 🏒💍✨
Rebound by Ava Hill has officially converted me into a friends-to-lovers reader, and honestly? I couldn’t have picked a better book to change my mind. This story gave me everything I didn’t know I needed—banter, obsession, found family, and a marriage of convenience in the most chaotic (and romantic) way possible.
Roman, our grumpy MMC with deep family scars, stole my heart from page one. He doesn’t trust easily, but the way he sees Lavinia—obsessed, protective, and utterly in love—had me melting. And Lavinia? A sunshine FMC, former Olympian turned content creator, who radiates warmth, wit, and resilience. Together, they’re absolute perfection.
The Vegas drunken marriage setup, their flirty texts, the hilarious “HoBros” book club (yes, hockey players reading romance!!), and the refreshing lack of a third-act breakup made this book an instant win for me.
I laughed, I swooned, I screamed, and I annotated like crazy. Ava Hill has delivered a hockey romance that’s not just about the game—it’s about healing, family, and finding love where you least expect it. This is 100% going on my re-read shelf, and I need books on the side characters ASAP.
Tropes I devoured:
🏒 Friends to lovers
💍 Marriage of convenience
🔥 He falls first (and hard)
📚 Found family + bromance book club
💘 Hockey player x content creator
Thank you @lovenotespr & Ava Hill for this ARC—I’m obsessed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2025
Stepping into my Hockey GIRL era and I cant say im mad about it!
Lavinia Callahan is an accomplished Hockey Player and 3x Olympic medalist who gets left at the alter 😬. Then there is her brothers best friend/childhood friend, fellow hockey player and swoon worthy man, Roman Maddox.
To say that Lavinia has baggage would be an understatement, but even though there were times that I wanted to throw my phone and scream HE'S RIGHT HERE FOR YOU TO LOVE...i kept my cool and trusted that love would prevail in the end 😂
This book had ALL the tropes, so if you like the following then I think you will like this:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💗 Friends to Lovers
🫶 He Falls First
💋 Hockey Player X Content Creator
⛸️ Former Hockey Player FMC
Lavinia Callahan is an accomplished Hockey Player and 3x Olympic medalist who gets left at the alter 😬. Then there is her brothers best friend/childhood friend, fellow hockey player and swoon worthy man, Roman Maddox.
To say that Lavinia has baggage would be an understatement, but even though there were times that I wanted to throw my phone and scream HE'S RIGHT HERE FOR YOU TO LOVE...i kept my cool and trusted that love would prevail in the end 😂
This book had ALL the tropes, so if you like the following then I think you will like this:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💗 Friends to Lovers
🫶 He Falls First
💋 Hockey Player X Content Creator
⛸️ Former Hockey Player FMC
October 3, 2025
The story starts with promise but quickly sinks into repetition and predictability. Nothing about it feels fresh or original, and even the character dynamics lack bite. What should have been sharp and engaging ends up dragging, weighed down by clichés and recycled ideas. Instead of delivering tension or chemistry, it settles into a dull loop that makes you want to skim just to get through it.
September 18, 2025
Everybody has childhood crushes, some grow into a lifetime of love - some go unnoticed and abandoned to the 'what ifs'. This is the complication of Lavinia Callahan and Roman Maddox.
Meet Lavinia - Vin, Blossom. Engaged to a unattentive hockey player for two years and on the day of their union, her world turns upside down. An effect that has Vin jumping on the back of the motorcycle of Roman himself. Her childhood best friend/crush turned stranger. Lavina loves hockey; it was the love of the game that bonded her to her dad and her childhood love in a now 6'4" dark haired, hazel eyed boy - Roman. Not to mention she is a three time gold Olympic winner who is renowned for being fierce, determined and dedicated but her career was snuffed out after an ACL tear where she follows the path of a Content Creator.
Meet Roman - Pretty Boy. Cat dad and now former RW of the Philadephia Falcons hockey team after being traded to the Boston Titans, the very place where Lavinia is and the legacy of their parents in the prestigious hockey world reside. Except where Vin has a communicative, chaotic, loving family that she wouldn't trade for the world; Roman was alone and it was then that he decided that was the best way to protect himself, if he has no one, nothing to lose then he can't be hurt. He didn't join hockey to follow his and Vins dads footsteps, he joined to be close the one person who made him love, feel and safe; his feisty curly copper haired, green eyed girl that stole his heart when he was young.
After the events that led her to jumping onto the back of his motorcycle, Roman refuses to leave Lavinia's orbit this time. On and off texting over the next few months and a chance encounter that lands them both in Vegas, the walls come down and they spend the night together - giving Vegas a run for their money. Waking up to the consequences of their actions, a bargain is struck - one that will help Roman acclimate to the Titans and a secret goal: get him his girl back. Vin agrees only to prove that she isn't washed up, boring and complacent - her side of the bargain to prove she is more than words.
Roman is still struggling to get in with the guys of the team, Lavinia's twin being Captain and his biggest obstacle of their bargain making it harder, they start to fall into a synchronized comfort and one that stirs up the feelings from their childhood and the years that have been locked up, lost awaiting to be found. Caving to the 'what ifs' and falling into what should've been them all those years ago, they rebuild their friendship and bond they had as kids. Opening up about the events from then to now and what went unsaid. Together, they fall into the cadence of their new life and accepting the bliss of it all and the plan working - Roman is more determined more than ever to make sure she stays in his life for good. It was easier to be cold, detached, callous but he has to break that to redefine the rules of his heart so he can be who Lavinia deserves, who he wants to be for her.
Finding boxes with her name on it, she finally asks and realizes how deep Romans love for her has been and never wavered; boxes filled with gifts from all his travels for her even though they were mere strangers. She truly believes now, they were meant to be, time may not heal all wounds but time ensured this love remained ferociously intact and everlasting as if in a time capsule, waiting to be reopened.
What goes up must come down. VIns ex-fiance, upends their happiness and Roman is quick to act; her whole crew is ready at her side. Days before the TItans face off the Falcons; an unruly interview meant to upend her life, ruin her career and defame her and all her hardwork, they chop it up to a ploy of revenge and to get into their heads before the game and they try to move on - redirect and do damage control. But Roman's future and turn in trajectory is unveiled and the realization that he was a pawn of his fathers own personal gain. They both are each other's strength and they persevere stronger than ever. Roman makes a grand gesture at the final game, sending Vin into a swooning WAG. The game remains intense and the end has her heart halting and plummeting to her stomach. Scared and afraid, relief only comes when she sees Roman reign strong and okay. Lavinia together sharing stories to help bring down Vins ex and everything is as it should be. Roman has a new family, the love of his life and a team that loves him for him; Lavinia has her missing piece and her happiness - she may not play on ice anymore but she's found all she needs within her own life and self.
Beautiful story about how no two childhoods are the same and not everyone is afforded the love and affection of those closest to us. We all have a path, with twists and turns, shoulder checks or being cross checked but how we process, acknowledge and accept it and make the necessary decisions to change is only when can come become our most authentic selves - that's when those who are meant to be in your life show up to show you all the love you needed and deserve.
Meet Lavinia - Vin, Blossom. Engaged to a unattentive hockey player for two years and on the day of their union, her world turns upside down. An effect that has Vin jumping on the back of the motorcycle of Roman himself. Her childhood best friend/crush turned stranger. Lavina loves hockey; it was the love of the game that bonded her to her dad and her childhood love in a now 6'4" dark haired, hazel eyed boy - Roman. Not to mention she is a three time gold Olympic winner who is renowned for being fierce, determined and dedicated but her career was snuffed out after an ACL tear where she follows the path of a Content Creator.
Meet Roman - Pretty Boy. Cat dad and now former RW of the Philadephia Falcons hockey team after being traded to the Boston Titans, the very place where Lavinia is and the legacy of their parents in the prestigious hockey world reside. Except where Vin has a communicative, chaotic, loving family that she wouldn't trade for the world; Roman was alone and it was then that he decided that was the best way to protect himself, if he has no one, nothing to lose then he can't be hurt. He didn't join hockey to follow his and Vins dads footsteps, he joined to be close the one person who made him love, feel and safe; his feisty curly copper haired, green eyed girl that stole his heart when he was young.
After the events that led her to jumping onto the back of his motorcycle, Roman refuses to leave Lavinia's orbit this time. On and off texting over the next few months and a chance encounter that lands them both in Vegas, the walls come down and they spend the night together - giving Vegas a run for their money. Waking up to the consequences of their actions, a bargain is struck - one that will help Roman acclimate to the Titans and a secret goal: get him his girl back. Vin agrees only to prove that she isn't washed up, boring and complacent - her side of the bargain to prove she is more than words.
Roman is still struggling to get in with the guys of the team, Lavinia's twin being Captain and his biggest obstacle of their bargain making it harder, they start to fall into a synchronized comfort and one that stirs up the feelings from their childhood and the years that have been locked up, lost awaiting to be found. Caving to the 'what ifs' and falling into what should've been them all those years ago, they rebuild their friendship and bond they had as kids. Opening up about the events from then to now and what went unsaid. Together, they fall into the cadence of their new life and accepting the bliss of it all and the plan working - Roman is more determined more than ever to make sure she stays in his life for good. It was easier to be cold, detached, callous but he has to break that to redefine the rules of his heart so he can be who Lavinia deserves, who he wants to be for her.
Finding boxes with her name on it, she finally asks and realizes how deep Romans love for her has been and never wavered; boxes filled with gifts from all his travels for her even though they were mere strangers. She truly believes now, they were meant to be, time may not heal all wounds but time ensured this love remained ferociously intact and everlasting as if in a time capsule, waiting to be reopened.
What goes up must come down. VIns ex-fiance, upends their happiness and Roman is quick to act; her whole crew is ready at her side. Days before the TItans face off the Falcons; an unruly interview meant to upend her life, ruin her career and defame her and all her hardwork, they chop it up to a ploy of revenge and to get into their heads before the game and they try to move on - redirect and do damage control. But Roman's future and turn in trajectory is unveiled and the realization that he was a pawn of his fathers own personal gain. They both are each other's strength and they persevere stronger than ever. Roman makes a grand gesture at the final game, sending Vin into a swooning WAG. The game remains intense and the end has her heart halting and plummeting to her stomach. Scared and afraid, relief only comes when she sees Roman reign strong and okay. Lavinia together sharing stories to help bring down Vins ex and everything is as it should be. Roman has a new family, the love of his life and a team that loves him for him; Lavinia has her missing piece and her happiness - she may not play on ice anymore but she's found all she needs within her own life and self.
Beautiful story about how no two childhoods are the same and not everyone is afforded the love and affection of those closest to us. We all have a path, with twists and turns, shoulder checks or being cross checked but how we process, acknowledge and accept it and make the necessary decisions to change is only when can come become our most authentic selves - that's when those who are meant to be in your life show up to show you all the love you needed and deserve.
September 30, 2025
Book one in the Boston Titans Series.
They say don't judge a book by its cover, but I can argue against that theory. I saw this cover and was instantly in love.
And the story inside was just as captivating.
I loved this story of childhood friends turned husband and wife. Roman is a man obsessed and boy does his love run deep. He has loved her for so long but always kept his love at a distance. No one has ever loved him and he thinks he doesn't deserve love and happiness.
Lavinia is a 3 time hockey gold medalist and a role model for girls everywhere. I connected so deeply with her and her journey after sports. As a former athlete trying to find who you are and a life after playing, it can really take a toll on who you are. It can leave you with holes in your heart.
Roman works to make sure Lavinia knows her worth and always keeps her light shining. He is her biggest fan and will do anything to show her what she means to him and the world.
I loved this book and fell in love with their love story. The supporting characters are also so fun and I can't wait to read more of this series.
"I can carry you anywhere you want to go for as long you need me to carry you."
"Lavinia is the star, Constance. I only shine because she's sharing her light."
This woman is a legend and she deserves to be treated as such.
"When the girl is you, I want you to feel spe-cial, Mrs. Maddox."
"I love that you came for me," he says quietly. "No one else ever has."
They say don't judge a book by its cover, but I can argue against that theory. I saw this cover and was instantly in love.
And the story inside was just as captivating.
I loved this story of childhood friends turned husband and wife. Roman is a man obsessed and boy does his love run deep. He has loved her for so long but always kept his love at a distance. No one has ever loved him and he thinks he doesn't deserve love and happiness.
Lavinia is a 3 time hockey gold medalist and a role model for girls everywhere. I connected so deeply with her and her journey after sports. As a former athlete trying to find who you are and a life after playing, it can really take a toll on who you are. It can leave you with holes in your heart.
Roman works to make sure Lavinia knows her worth and always keeps her light shining. He is her biggest fan and will do anything to show her what she means to him and the world.
I loved this book and fell in love with their love story. The supporting characters are also so fun and I can't wait to read more of this series.
"I can carry you anywhere you want to go for as long you need me to carry you."
"Lavinia is the star, Constance. I only shine because she's sharing her light."
This woman is a legend and she deserves to be treated as such.
"When the girl is you, I want you to feel spe-cial, Mrs. Maddox."
"I love that you came for me," he says quietly. "No one else ever has."
October 2, 2025
Thank you to Love Notes and Ava Hill for this amazing ARC!!
4.5 stars for sure!
When I say I devoured this book, I absolutely loved it so much!!
Lavinia and Roman are absolutely everything. Their banter, chemistry and friendship were top tier. They were playful, witty, and the yearning from Roman Maddox.. I mean, come on. AND to even add to that, he’s a cat dad. swooning.
It starts out with a “left at the alter” to “running away on bike with your childhood best friend” situation. You’ve got star hockey players, a humorous hobro group chat, and team rivalries. It had multiple tropes, which kept my interest peaked and excited to read more. Brothers enemy, to teammate, marriage of convenience, to found family?
This story dove into deeper depts, speaking of family expectations and the realities of different home lives. It proves no matter how you raised, you can come out on top and be better version than what was giving to you. It was just so good.
It was fun, and relatable, and so enjoyable.
It was just released, so go get it, you won’t be disappointed if you love a good hockey romance!!!
4.5 stars for sure!
When I say I devoured this book, I absolutely loved it so much!!
Lavinia and Roman are absolutely everything. Their banter, chemistry and friendship were top tier. They were playful, witty, and the yearning from Roman Maddox.. I mean, come on. AND to even add to that, he’s a cat dad. swooning.
It starts out with a “left at the alter” to “running away on bike with your childhood best friend” situation. You’ve got star hockey players, a humorous hobro group chat, and team rivalries. It had multiple tropes, which kept my interest peaked and excited to read more. Brothers enemy, to teammate, marriage of convenience, to found family?
This story dove into deeper depts, speaking of family expectations and the realities of different home lives. It proves no matter how you raised, you can come out on top and be better version than what was giving to you. It was just so good.
It was fun, and relatable, and so enjoyable.
It was just released, so go get it, you won’t be disappointed if you love a good hockey romance!!!
September 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ 2 🌶️
Absolutely AMAZING! Lavinia and Maddox were always written in the stars since they were kids! They grow and push each other to be better! Most of all they stand up for each other and stand beside each other! I literally read this book in one day it was so good. Its a bit of a slow burner, so patience is required but I promise its worth it for the storyline. This book was the definition of the saying “Nothing worth having is easy.” Maddox shows through mostly his actions but also words what kind of person he is and how he loves people despite his reputation. His development was perfection. Lavinia gets to work through herself and Maddox gets to open up and let people in and allow himself family and friends. The way Maddox is so secure in himself to let Lavinia shine and is just happy to be proud of her and in her orbit. Gahhh he’s such a great MMC. Everything about each character throughout this book and their growth was incredible. I can’t wait to read more of the series in the future!
Absolutely AMAZING! Lavinia and Maddox were always written in the stars since they were kids! They grow and push each other to be better! Most of all they stand up for each other and stand beside each other! I literally read this book in one day it was so good. Its a bit of a slow burner, so patience is required but I promise its worth it for the storyline. This book was the definition of the saying “Nothing worth having is easy.” Maddox shows through mostly his actions but also words what kind of person he is and how he loves people despite his reputation. His development was perfection. Lavinia gets to work through herself and Maddox gets to open up and let people in and allow himself family and friends. The way Maddox is so secure in himself to let Lavinia shine and is just happy to be proud of her and in her orbit. Gahhh he’s such a great MMC. Everything about each character throughout this book and their growth was incredible. I can’t wait to read more of the series in the future!
October 7, 2025
“I think about you every day. Every moment. No matter where I am or what I’m doing. You’re the only thought in my mind.“
Swooooon 😍 Roman Maddox?!?! Oh, how I love a man who YEARNS! He is so freaking obsessed with our FMC and honestly, so am I!
“I’ve never claimed to be anything other than utterly obsessed with you.”
Lavinia, the woman that you are. I genuinely was cracking up at the wit and snark radiating from this woman. She is such a wonderful FMC. I found myself relating to her so much throughout the story. The banter between her and Roman was stellar. And the spice?! Holy crap the spice is next level.
And then we have the best friend duo Lavinia and Jules. Omg these girls reminded me so much of my relationships with my besties. They literally had me in tears from laughing so hard at their commentary.
This book was literally everything!
4.25⭐️
Swooooon 😍 Roman Maddox?!?! Oh, how I love a man who YEARNS! He is so freaking obsessed with our FMC and honestly, so am I!
“I’ve never claimed to be anything other than utterly obsessed with you.”
Lavinia, the woman that you are. I genuinely was cracking up at the wit and snark radiating from this woman. She is such a wonderful FMC. I found myself relating to her so much throughout the story. The banter between her and Roman was stellar. And the spice?! Holy crap the spice is next level.
And then we have the best friend duo Lavinia and Jules. Omg these girls reminded me so much of my relationships with my besties. They literally had me in tears from laughing so hard at their commentary.
This book was literally everything!
4.25⭐️
October 6, 2025
Rebound is a sport romance, friends to lovers, and marriage of convenience with spice. This is Lavinia and Roman’s story and i could put it down. I love his possessive nature and how he would do anything for Lavinia since they were kids. Lavinia is such a great character, strong, sporty, and friendly. I love how she got Roman out of his shell and how he saved her from a big mistake. Their story is filled with surprises and hilarious interactions with their friends and teammates. I really enjoyed their story and can’t wait to read more.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this gifted advance readers copy.
I voluntarily leave an honest review of this gifted advance readers copy.
October 5, 2025
huge thank you to Ava Hill and Love Notes for providing me this ARC!
my rating: ✩✩✩✩✩✩
when i tell you i'm completely and utterly in love with this man just know i MEAN it. in my head Roman Maddox is mine and nobody can convince me otherwise. everything about him and Vin was just chef's kiss! the plot? amazing. the characters? amazing. the romance? romancing.
i loved how complex Roman was. no room for two dimensional character here. he was all raw emotions, yearning and trauma in the best way possible. did i mention he's got not two but three cats? who doesn't love a brooding cat daddy. i was even more gone for him when i read about Buffy, Salem and Sabrina. he's a damn polyglot (i want to be like him when i'm older) and he's learning Polish (I'M POLISH!!) it's always so unexpected to read about characters mentioning your homecountry.
i have zero complaints. give me fourteen of them (book and Roman both) right now. can't wait for the rest of the series <3 the snippets of Sage and Ford got me in a chokehold.
——————
i put an all-nighter yesterday because i didn't want to sleep without knowing what happened next. i'm hooked. i'm obsessed.
I'll need a couple of business days to articulate my thoughts DAMN THAT WAS AMAZING
my rating: ✩✩✩✩✩✩
when i tell you i'm completely and utterly in love with this man just know i MEAN it. in my head Roman Maddox is mine and nobody can convince me otherwise. everything about him and Vin was just chef's kiss! the plot? amazing. the characters? amazing. the romance? romancing.
i loved how complex Roman was. no room for two dimensional character here. he was all raw emotions, yearning and trauma in the best way possible. did i mention he's got not two but three cats? who doesn't love a brooding cat daddy. i was even more gone for him when i read about Buffy, Salem and Sabrina. he's a damn polyglot (i want to be like him when i'm older) and he's learning Polish (I'M POLISH!!) it's always so unexpected to read about characters mentioning your homecountry.
i have zero complaints. give me fourteen of them (book and Roman both) right now. can't wait for the rest of the series <3 the snippets of Sage and Ford got me in a chokehold.
——————
i put an all-nighter yesterday because i didn't want to sleep without knowing what happened next. i'm hooked. i'm obsessed.
I'll need a couple of business days to articulate my thoughts DAMN THAT WAS AMAZING
October 6, 2025
ARC- Review
Anyone order the perfect boyfriend?
Roman Maddox is the best. Rough on the outside, a sweetheart on the inside. Exactly the man Lavinia needs in her life. These two are just perfect. And I love their story sooo much!
But it should've ended sooner. When everything is perfect 80% in, you don't need to add more drama and chaos, so in the end it all just felt forced.
Anyone order the perfect boyfriend?
Roman Maddox is the best. Rough on the outside, a sweetheart on the inside. Exactly the man Lavinia needs in her life. These two are just perfect. And I love their story sooo much!
But it should've ended sooner. When everything is perfect 80% in, you don't need to add more drama and chaos, so in the end it all just felt forced.
October 7, 2025
✨Tropes✨
🏒Hockey Romance
🩷Friends to Lovers
💒Marriage of Convenience
🩷He Falls First
🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a beautiful story. It had all the flirty texts that made me swoon. The witty banter had me laughing. The "HoBros" book club was particularly funny. Yes, that's hockey players reading romance. Overall this was a good read.
🏒Hockey Romance
🩷Friends to Lovers
💒Marriage of Convenience
🩷He Falls First
🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a beautiful story. It had all the flirty texts that made me swoon. The witty banter had me laughing. The "HoBros" book club was particularly funny. Yes, that's hockey players reading romance. Overall this was a good read.
September 30, 2025
Rebound by Ava Hill
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What a great debut novel by Ava Hill. I love a sports romance and even more, I love a good hockey romance. It was fun to have both the FMC and MMC high performing hockey players!
Roman was absolutely gone for Lavinia and I so enjoyed watching him praise her and make sure everyone put respect on her name. I also love a marriage of convenience so I was all in on these two.
Ava has set up the secondary characters so well that I look forward to what she does next in this world she has built! A fun and spicy read!
🏒dual pov
🏒marriage of convenience
🏒he falls first
🏒second chance friends to lovers
🏒brothers teammate
⭐️: 4/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What a great debut novel by Ava Hill. I love a sports romance and even more, I love a good hockey romance. It was fun to have both the FMC and MMC high performing hockey players!
Roman was absolutely gone for Lavinia and I so enjoyed watching him praise her and make sure everyone put respect on her name. I also love a marriage of convenience so I was all in on these two.
Ava has set up the secondary characters so well that I look forward to what she does next in this world she has built! A fun and spicy read!
🏒dual pov
🏒marriage of convenience
🏒he falls first
🏒second chance friends to lovers
🏒brothers teammate
October 3, 2025
I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH. I love an FMC who was also a professional athlete and a bad boy MMC who’s actually really thoughtful, kind, logical, and obsessed with his girl. This was such a good story and introduced SO many characters that I can’t wait to be a part of this found family. Top notch hockey romance 🤍
September 17, 2025
Arc read! I loved this book i definitely recommend if you love a sports romance. Also if you love when the MMC is in love, obsessed and crazy for the FMC read this book!!!!
I adore the woman empowerment theme throughout.
Lavinia and Roman have my heart. This book isn’t even out yet and I can’t wait to see what else Ava does with this series😭😭
I adore the woman empowerment theme throughout.
Lavinia and Roman have my heart. This book isn’t even out yet and I can’t wait to see what else Ava does with this series😭😭
September 26, 2025
This was such a sweet read! Rowan - top tier book boyfriend for sure! Really enjoyed the banter, the characters, the friendships and family relationships. It was a fun and enjoyable sports romance🥅
October 2, 2025
I was given the opportunity to read and review this as an ARC, all views and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book, I love a hockey romance and this didn’t disappoint. I started yesterday morning and finished today, putting it down was a chore honestly didn’t want to go to work.
I loved the two main characters Lavinia and Maddox were fab, I loved their banter and watching their friendship develop further. I loved that Maddox always put Lavinia first and made sure she shined brighter than anyone.
This was such a cute read and I’m looking forward to following the rest of the series to get my hockey fix.
I really enjoyed this book, I love a hockey romance and this didn’t disappoint. I started yesterday morning and finished today, putting it down was a chore honestly didn’t want to go to work.
I loved the two main characters Lavinia and Maddox were fab, I loved their banter and watching their friendship develop further. I loved that Maddox always put Lavinia first and made sure she shined brighter than anyone.
This was such a cute read and I’m looking forward to following the rest of the series to get my hockey fix.
September 30, 2025
This book was amazing! I loved Lavinia and Roman. Each character was great on their own but together they are outstanding. The supporting cast was great as well and I hope that the Hoboys find their loves too! I can't wait to see if Drew and Jules become enemies to lovers! Their banter is hilarious and they deserve a storyline outside of this book.
Lavinia and Roman come from hockey legacy families. Their fathers played together on the Titans. Both followed their fathers footsteps but their paths were different. Lavinia's twin brother also became a Titan. Roman and Drew achieved success in the NHL. Drew embraced his father's legacy and became the Captain of the Titans. Roman distanced himself from his father and tried to be a better man and better hockey player on whatever team he played with. While Drew was a team player, Roman played but his trust and loyalty had to be earned. He wasn’t going to blindly trust his teammates, they had to prove that they were worth it because of his father's failings. When Roman became a Titan, everyone gave him the cold shoulder and wanted him gone. Roman wanted to be a Titan but after years of keeping to himself, he really didn't know how to let his new teammates in.
Lavinia became an Olympic gold medalist, the Captain of her team, a member of the PWHL, and a role model. After an injury, she decided to retire. She was scared that her game would never be as good as it was before her surgery. During this time she became a podcaster and content creator. She lost her identity while dating Roman's ex teammate and Captain. Lavinia was a social butterfly who could charm anyone including the Titan's piranha. Only Lavinia could coax a smile out of Roman. Little did everyone know that he was her childhood best friend and the person who helped her escape when she was left at the alter.
Roman and Lavinia had a history, one that a lot of people would like to forget because of Roman's father. After eighteen years apart, Roman and Lavinia rekindled their friendship. After a game in Vegas, they decided to have some fun. A combination of alcohol and possible bad decisions led them to the chapel, rings, and a signed marriage license. After the initial panic of being married they agreed to a "temporary" marriage to help Roman with his image and prevent a PR nightmare for Lavinia.
As time passes, Roman is slowly accepted by his teammates and his new brother-in-law. His father-in-law worries that he is like his father but eventually this becomes a non issue. Lavinia's mother accepted him as her "son", right away. Roman hadn't been a part of a real loving family since he was young and this made relationships hard. The one constant in his childhood was Lavinia, the reason why he chose hockey, and she became his first love and obsession. He never forgot her even though they were apart for several years.
Lavinia may have had a hockey legend for a father but she made her own mark on women's hockey. She was an icon, and an idol for up and coming players and had countless fans all over the country. Her exes were envious of her fame and often made her feel small or guilty for being who she was. They wanted to dim her light to make themselves shine. It wasn't until Roman praised and encouraged her by standing in the shadows, did she realize that a true partner stood beside you not in front of you. They let you have tge spotlight and knew when to share it too.
This book is not only a book about two people finding love. It also touches on the importance of having a great support system. The importance of friendship. It also touches on how toxic relationships can have a lasting impact on your life and future relationships in every aspect of your life. Lavinia and Roman both had trauma in their lives but together they were able to let the past go and look to a better future. They were better and stronger together.
Thank you Ava Hill and LoveNotesPR for the ARC and the opportunity to review this wonderful book!
Lavinia and Roman come from hockey legacy families. Their fathers played together on the Titans. Both followed their fathers footsteps but their paths were different. Lavinia's twin brother also became a Titan. Roman and Drew achieved success in the NHL. Drew embraced his father's legacy and became the Captain of the Titans. Roman distanced himself from his father and tried to be a better man and better hockey player on whatever team he played with. While Drew was a team player, Roman played but his trust and loyalty had to be earned. He wasn’t going to blindly trust his teammates, they had to prove that they were worth it because of his father's failings. When Roman became a Titan, everyone gave him the cold shoulder and wanted him gone. Roman wanted to be a Titan but after years of keeping to himself, he really didn't know how to let his new teammates in.
Lavinia became an Olympic gold medalist, the Captain of her team, a member of the PWHL, and a role model. After an injury, she decided to retire. She was scared that her game would never be as good as it was before her surgery. During this time she became a podcaster and content creator. She lost her identity while dating Roman's ex teammate and Captain. Lavinia was a social butterfly who could charm anyone including the Titan's piranha. Only Lavinia could coax a smile out of Roman. Little did everyone know that he was her childhood best friend and the person who helped her escape when she was left at the alter.
Roman and Lavinia had a history, one that a lot of people would like to forget because of Roman's father. After eighteen years apart, Roman and Lavinia rekindled their friendship. After a game in Vegas, they decided to have some fun. A combination of alcohol and possible bad decisions led them to the chapel, rings, and a signed marriage license. After the initial panic of being married they agreed to a "temporary" marriage to help Roman with his image and prevent a PR nightmare for Lavinia.
As time passes, Roman is slowly accepted by his teammates and his new brother-in-law. His father-in-law worries that he is like his father but eventually this becomes a non issue. Lavinia's mother accepted him as her "son", right away. Roman hadn't been a part of a real loving family since he was young and this made relationships hard. The one constant in his childhood was Lavinia, the reason why he chose hockey, and she became his first love and obsession. He never forgot her even though they were apart for several years.
Lavinia may have had a hockey legend for a father but she made her own mark on women's hockey. She was an icon, and an idol for up and coming players and had countless fans all over the country. Her exes were envious of her fame and often made her feel small or guilty for being who she was. They wanted to dim her light to make themselves shine. It wasn't until Roman praised and encouraged her by standing in the shadows, did she realize that a true partner stood beside you not in front of you. They let you have tge spotlight and knew when to share it too.
This book is not only a book about two people finding love. It also touches on the importance of having a great support system. The importance of friendship. It also touches on how toxic relationships can have a lasting impact on your life and future relationships in every aspect of your life. Lavinia and Roman both had trauma in their lives but together they were able to let the past go and look to a better future. They were better and stronger together.
Thank you Ava Hill and LoveNotesPR for the ARC and the opportunity to review this wonderful book!
October 1, 2025
Rating
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
—
Final Rating: 4.25 (rounded down from 4.35)
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Rebound” follows retired hockey player and Olympic medalist Lavinia Callahan and her childhood friend, hockey player and “bad boy” Roman Maddox.
Lavinia is described as a “good girl” who does whatever is expected of her. She is incredibly successful in all areas of her life except for one: relationships. On the morning of her wedding, she is left at the alter by her fiancé, Josh. Not wanting to face the guests right away, her best friend Jules convinced her to escape with her estranged childhood friend, Roman.
Roman is a closed off person who can’t bring himself to want relationships, romantic or otherwise, except for with Lavinia Callahan. However, Roman has never believed that he deserves her. His only example of what relationships can be came from an alcoholic mother and former hockey player father trying to relive his old team rivalry through Roman. He was never exposed to how a relationship should be.
When Roman rescues Lavinia from her disastrous wedding day, it presents them a new opportunity to reconnect and discover who they are, want to be, and the person they were meant to be with.
Lavinia’s character shows us a very successful woman in a typically make dominated field. She is a role model for women in sports and uses her platform to encourage that truth that women can be beautiful and incredible at sports. She is a likable character and a good addition to the list of strong FMC’s.
Roman Maddox is the down bad, sad boy that dreams are made of. He is the epitome of the trope. Roman is very endearing with his 3 adopted black cats Sabrina, Buffy, and Salem. He likes to be alone, but discovers that he secretly longs for friends and a true home. He is a very lovable and sexy MMC that is sure to become your next book boyfriend.
Romance: ⭐️⭐️���️⭐️.5
This romance was hot and swoon worthy at the same time. Romans complete and utter devotion to Lavinia is everything and more. They will both do anything for each other and are the perfect example of soulmates. I’m very happy that there was no third act breakup because it would not have made sense for this couple at all.
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! I was not expecting the level of spice that was delivered in this book. The biggest plus for me was with all of the spice, the scenes never got boring. It will leave you speechless and then giggling and kicking your feet.
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I really liked the storyline and for the most part, it was a really good execution. I liked the approach to the friends to lovers trope and how it felt like you were starting in the middle of the story when it was really just the beginning.
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
The biggest cons for this book (but really didn’t make it any less enjoyable) were the inconsistencies and typos. There were some events and details that didn’t match with the previous writing. The typos weren’t a deal breaker, but there were enough to be noticeable. However, I want to state that I read this as an eARC, so it is possible that those issues were fixed in the final product. Also, I did like the writing style aside from what I previously stated. I think it could’ve been shorter, but that is a personal preference.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.45
Overall, this was a really fun and enjoyable read. The romance delivered and the characters were lovable. I was very impressed by this debut.
Thank you to Ava Hill and Love Notes PR for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
—
Final Rating: 4.25 (rounded down from 4.35)
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Review
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Rebound” follows retired hockey player and Olympic medalist Lavinia Callahan and her childhood friend, hockey player and “bad boy” Roman Maddox.
Lavinia is described as a “good girl” who does whatever is expected of her. She is incredibly successful in all areas of her life except for one: relationships. On the morning of her wedding, she is left at the alter by her fiancé, Josh. Not wanting to face the guests right away, her best friend Jules convinced her to escape with her estranged childhood friend, Roman.
Roman is a closed off person who can’t bring himself to want relationships, romantic or otherwise, except for with Lavinia Callahan. However, Roman has never believed that he deserves her. His only example of what relationships can be came from an alcoholic mother and former hockey player father trying to relive his old team rivalry through Roman. He was never exposed to how a relationship should be.
When Roman rescues Lavinia from her disastrous wedding day, it presents them a new opportunity to reconnect and discover who they are, want to be, and the person they were meant to be with.
Lavinia’s character shows us a very successful woman in a typically make dominated field. She is a role model for women in sports and uses her platform to encourage that truth that women can be beautiful and incredible at sports. She is a likable character and a good addition to the list of strong FMC’s.
Roman Maddox is the down bad, sad boy that dreams are made of. He is the epitome of the trope. Roman is very endearing with his 3 adopted black cats Sabrina, Buffy, and Salem. He likes to be alone, but discovers that he secretly longs for friends and a true home. He is a very lovable and sexy MMC that is sure to become your next book boyfriend.
Romance: ⭐️⭐️���️⭐️.5
This romance was hot and swoon worthy at the same time. Romans complete and utter devotion to Lavinia is everything and more. They will both do anything for each other and are the perfect example of soulmates. I’m very happy that there was no third act breakup because it would not have made sense for this couple at all.
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! I was not expecting the level of spice that was delivered in this book. The biggest plus for me was with all of the spice, the scenes never got boring. It will leave you speechless and then giggling and kicking your feet.
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I really liked the storyline and for the most part, it was a really good execution. I liked the approach to the friends to lovers trope and how it felt like you were starting in the middle of the story when it was really just the beginning.
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
The biggest cons for this book (but really didn’t make it any less enjoyable) were the inconsistencies and typos. There were some events and details that didn’t match with the previous writing. The typos weren’t a deal breaker, but there were enough to be noticeable. However, I want to state that I read this as an eARC, so it is possible that those issues were fixed in the final product. Also, I did like the writing style aside from what I previously stated. I think it could’ve been shorter, but that is a personal preference.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.45
Overall, this was a really fun and enjoyable read. The romance delivered and the characters were lovable. I was very impressed by this debut.
Thank you to Ava Hill and Love Notes PR for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 29, 2025
ARC provided by LoveNotes PR in exchange for honest review.
Rebound is a really enjoyable hockey romance novel. After being ditched on her wedding day, Roman, an uninvited guest, begs her to run away with him. After a lot of flirty text exchanges, and Roman joining the same team as Lavinia's twin brother, they end up in Vegas at the same time. What happens in Vegas... becomes a marriage of convenience. But Roman is desperately in love with Lavinia, and would die for the chance at more. Will Lavinia feel the same?
I love that Lavinia is a retired but massively successful hockey player in her own right. She knows exactly what Roman is missing out on by not bonding with his teammates, and agrees not to annul the marriage straight away if he gets to know his team and sheds his "Brutalizer" reputation. She is so oblivious to his absolute adoration of her, it almost becomes frustrating at times - everything she could ever dream of is right in front of her with flashing neon lights and she just can't see it. Roman is flat out adorable. His hard man exterior on the ice is all front - he lives with three cats, has an older lady neighbour as a parental figure in the absence of any relationship with his own parents, and has literal boxes of gifts he's bought for Lavinia over the years of them being estranged, just because he knew she'd like them. He's a monster on the ice, but for her he's absolute soft scoop ice cream. Seeing him start to bond with his teammates - admittedly with the ulterior motive of staying near to her - is so satisfying. As the reader you know full well he has the potential to be a great team player, but his teammates need to see that too. His joining of the HoBros brings a lot of comedy to the plot, a perfect lightener. His acceptance into the Callahan family is another beautiful moment.
The "bad guy" in this book is an absolute douchecanoe. He pops up regularly enough to think that he's an irritant, but you aren't prepared for the absolute devil move he pulls towards the end of the book. The narcissism is off the hook! Thankfully Lavinia is able to turn the tables thanks to her content creator platform and the collaboration of other women he treated terribly. Between that and him losing his rag with Roman during their match, he gets his comeuppance both on and off the ice, which is incredibly satisfying. I would have liked to have seen a bit in the epilogue about Lavinia having earned back the sponsorship deals she lost in the wake of Josh's awful lies, but that's a small thing.
The one real holdup for me with this book was the lack of hockey content. For me, a truly good sports romance needs to shine a decent spotlight on the sport it features, in the form of more match "footage", or descriptions using correct terminology. Rebound started so promisingly with Lavinia being an ex player herself, and I feel like there was a missed opportunity to really exploit that and dig deep into the technical content. The rest of the book was very solid, with the drunken marriage trope segueing into a marriage of convenience very effectively, a sassy FMC who is successful in her own right but utterly blind as to what is in front of her, and a supposed bad boy MMC who turns out to be the chocolate with the gooey caramel centre, capable of total reform if it means putting a smile on her face. I'm also liking the spiky tension between Drew and Jules, I suspect we'll be seeing more from them and I'm here for it!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
Rebound is a really enjoyable hockey romance novel. After being ditched on her wedding day, Roman, an uninvited guest, begs her to run away with him. After a lot of flirty text exchanges, and Roman joining the same team as Lavinia's twin brother, they end up in Vegas at the same time. What happens in Vegas... becomes a marriage of convenience. But Roman is desperately in love with Lavinia, and would die for the chance at more. Will Lavinia feel the same?
I love that Lavinia is a retired but massively successful hockey player in her own right. She knows exactly what Roman is missing out on by not bonding with his teammates, and agrees not to annul the marriage straight away if he gets to know his team and sheds his "Brutalizer" reputation. She is so oblivious to his absolute adoration of her, it almost becomes frustrating at times - everything she could ever dream of is right in front of her with flashing neon lights and she just can't see it. Roman is flat out adorable. His hard man exterior on the ice is all front - he lives with three cats, has an older lady neighbour as a parental figure in the absence of any relationship with his own parents, and has literal boxes of gifts he's bought for Lavinia over the years of them being estranged, just because he knew she'd like them. He's a monster on the ice, but for her he's absolute soft scoop ice cream. Seeing him start to bond with his teammates - admittedly with the ulterior motive of staying near to her - is so satisfying. As the reader you know full well he has the potential to be a great team player, but his teammates need to see that too. His joining of the HoBros brings a lot of comedy to the plot, a perfect lightener. His acceptance into the Callahan family is another beautiful moment.
The "bad guy" in this book is an absolute douchecanoe. He pops up regularly enough to think that he's an irritant, but you aren't prepared for the absolute devil move he pulls towards the end of the book. The narcissism is off the hook! Thankfully Lavinia is able to turn the tables thanks to her content creator platform and the collaboration of other women he treated terribly. Between that and him losing his rag with Roman during their match, he gets his comeuppance both on and off the ice, which is incredibly satisfying. I would have liked to have seen a bit in the epilogue about Lavinia having earned back the sponsorship deals she lost in the wake of Josh's awful lies, but that's a small thing.
The one real holdup for me with this book was the lack of hockey content. For me, a truly good sports romance needs to shine a decent spotlight on the sport it features, in the form of more match "footage", or descriptions using correct terminology. Rebound started so promisingly with Lavinia being an ex player herself, and I feel like there was a missed opportunity to really exploit that and dig deep into the technical content. The rest of the book was very solid, with the drunken marriage trope segueing into a marriage of convenience very effectively, a sassy FMC who is successful in her own right but utterly blind as to what is in front of her, and a supposed bad boy MMC who turns out to be the chocolate with the gooey caramel centre, capable of total reform if it means putting a smile on her face. I'm also liking the spiky tension between Drew and Jules, I suspect we'll be seeing more from them and I'm here for it!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!
October 8, 2025
Rebound by Ava Hill was an incredible surprise that turned into a book I thoroughly enjoyed. The narrative centers around Lavinia, a three-time Olympic medalist and former hockey player who has transitioned into an influencer post injury. The story begins on her wedding day, which is abruptly canceled by her ex, leaving her to embark on a journey of self-discovery. To escape the questions, she escapes with her childhood best friend, Roman, for a few hours who she hasn't seen in years. However, their paths start to cross frequently as he is traded to Lavinia’s brother’s hockey team, The Titans. As they spend more time together, a rekindled friendship blossoms, and one fateful night in Vegas, they drunkenly get married. Their union is initially motivated by a desire to help Roman’s image for the team and for Lavinia to break free from her perceived complacency. Unbeknownst to them, both harbor secret crushes on each other for years. The story unfolds as they navigate the challenges of their new marriage, confront their evolving emotions, face family pressure, and embark on a transformative learning experience.
Lavinia’s character defies expectations. Initially, I was concerned about her influencer status, but she turns out to be genuine and down-to-earth. Her past heartbreak has left her struggling with self-worth, but she finds solace in the love and support of her close-knit family. Roman becomes her sanctuary when she feels alone. The author’s positive portrayal of Lavinia playing hockey and her remarkable talent surpasses that of the boys is truly inspiring. I witness Lavinia’s growth as she discovers her true self post playing hockey. She embodies strength, fierceness, loyalty, and hilarity, and I find her to be the perfect blend of boldness and sweetness.
Roman, a man consumed by love, had been harboring feelings for Lavinia since their friendship started. However, he held back due to her existing relationships. When he finally got a chance to be with her, he was utterly devoted. From meticulously planned dates to thoughtful gifts from his past travels, and even tattoos that symbolized their connection, he was a perfect husband.
Despite his outward success, Roman grappled with a deep sense of loneliness stemming from his family dynamics. It was heartwarming to witness his gradual transformation as he found love with Lavinia, the hockey boys, and Lavinia’s family. It felt like he had finally taken a deep breath and released the weight that troubled him. He had found true companions who cherished and supported him. Contrary to his reputation as a stoic and brooding individual, Roman displayed a surprising side. He nurtured three cats, mentored a young boy in hockey, and showered Lavinia with affection. His gentle nature and kindness were a delightful contrast to his tough exterior.
The book was a delightful blend of a fun and heartwarming romance, a hockey romance, a surprise marriage of convenience, and a perfect found family and friends. I was utterly captivated from beginning to end and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. I eagerly anticipate the next book by this author, hoping for a tale about Drew and Jules.
I want to express my gratitude to Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC of this book, allowing me to write an honest review.
Lavinia’s character defies expectations. Initially, I was concerned about her influencer status, but she turns out to be genuine and down-to-earth. Her past heartbreak has left her struggling with self-worth, but she finds solace in the love and support of her close-knit family. Roman becomes her sanctuary when she feels alone. The author’s positive portrayal of Lavinia playing hockey and her remarkable talent surpasses that of the boys is truly inspiring. I witness Lavinia’s growth as she discovers her true self post playing hockey. She embodies strength, fierceness, loyalty, and hilarity, and I find her to be the perfect blend of boldness and sweetness.
Roman, a man consumed by love, had been harboring feelings for Lavinia since their friendship started. However, he held back due to her existing relationships. When he finally got a chance to be with her, he was utterly devoted. From meticulously planned dates to thoughtful gifts from his past travels, and even tattoos that symbolized their connection, he was a perfect husband.
Despite his outward success, Roman grappled with a deep sense of loneliness stemming from his family dynamics. It was heartwarming to witness his gradual transformation as he found love with Lavinia, the hockey boys, and Lavinia’s family. It felt like he had finally taken a deep breath and released the weight that troubled him. He had found true companions who cherished and supported him. Contrary to his reputation as a stoic and brooding individual, Roman displayed a surprising side. He nurtured three cats, mentored a young boy in hockey, and showered Lavinia with affection. His gentle nature and kindness were a delightful contrast to his tough exterior.
The book was a delightful blend of a fun and heartwarming romance, a hockey romance, a surprise marriage of convenience, and a perfect found family and friends. I was utterly captivated from beginning to end and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. I eagerly anticipate the next book by this author, hoping for a tale about Drew and Jules.
I want to express my gratitude to Love Notes PR for providing me with an ARC of this book, allowing me to write an honest review.
October 1, 2025
Thank you Ava and Love Notes PR for the advance copy of Rebound 🩷🖤 The night that I started this book, I stayed up and only got one hour of sleep because I couldn't put this down and then read for as much as I could when I wasn't working and sleeping and helping a friend move. When I tell you this had my FOCUS 💯
genre: Sports romance
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
tropes:
*Childhood friends
*Dual POV
*Former Olympic Hockey player/Content Creator & Podcaster FMC
*NHL player
*He's OBSESSED with her
*Vegas Wedding
"My Wife
summary:
Lavinia Callahan finds out minutes before her marriage that the groom got cold feet, and to avoid being embarrassed in front of her family and close friends, she rides away on her childhood friends motorcycle. Said friend actively avoids Lavinia and she's tired of that so she creates her own game with him when he finally expresses interest. Battling her feelings to him because she's scared of another failed relationship, Lavinia tries to keep him the friendzone, but he won't let her hide there any more.
Roman Maddox is OBSESSED with Lavinia but plays it cool because she just had a failed wedding attempt and he thinks she doesn't want him based off his own history of relationships, including his hockey teams. He doesn't know how to keep her by his side though, so he asks for help with getting "in" with his hockey team, which her dad played for and her brother's the current captain.
Oh and did I mention that they drunkenly got married x
The two have to navigate their "friendship" with sexual tension, overprotective hockey players and the old lady next door, and three cats who don't let Roman have peace. Will their relationship be temporary until the end of the season, or will Roman finally convince Lavinia that they belong together.
my thoughts:
I am as obsessed with Rebound as Roman is to Lavinia.
I'm going to be honest - I want to smack Lavinia for not noticing how much Roman has always wanted her and the game she played for a chunk of the book. MISS MA'AM PUT MY MANS OUT OF MISERY PLEASE!!?
I do love that Vin tries to help Roman getting out of his shell, but it's kind of weird to me that she never noticed his tense relationship growing up when they were supposedly super close. I get that he didn't want her to see it, but maybe that was her looking through her rose colored glasses like she did with Josh 🤮
The smut? IMMACULATE. The plot? Full circle. The side characters? I can't wait to read their stores! The book? DEVOURED AND WANT MORE. I thought this book would be a quick, cute and spicy read - but now I'm ranting to my therapist about why I don't have a Roman in my life.
Perfect for readers who love sports romance with depth, this story blends heat, humor, and heart with a raw exploration of what it takes to rebuild—on the ice and in love.
genre: Sports romance
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
tropes:
*Childhood friends
*Dual POV
*Former Olympic Hockey player/Content Creator & Podcaster FMC
*NHL player
*He's OBSESSED with her
*Vegas Wedding
"My Wife
summary:
Lavinia Callahan finds out minutes before her marriage that the groom got cold feet, and to avoid being embarrassed in front of her family and close friends, she rides away on her childhood friends motorcycle. Said friend actively avoids Lavinia and she's tired of that so she creates her own game with him when he finally expresses interest. Battling her feelings to him because she's scared of another failed relationship, Lavinia tries to keep him the friendzone, but he won't let her hide there any more.
Roman Maddox is OBSESSED with Lavinia but plays it cool because she just had a failed wedding attempt and he thinks she doesn't want him based off his own history of relationships, including his hockey teams. He doesn't know how to keep her by his side though, so he asks for help with getting "in" with his hockey team, which her dad played for and her brother's the current captain.
Oh and did I mention that they drunkenly got married x
The two have to navigate their "friendship" with sexual tension, overprotective hockey players and the old lady next door, and three cats who don't let Roman have peace. Will their relationship be temporary until the end of the season, or will Roman finally convince Lavinia that they belong together.
my thoughts:
I am as obsessed with Rebound as Roman is to Lavinia.
I'm going to be honest - I want to smack Lavinia for not noticing how much Roman has always wanted her and the game she played for a chunk of the book. MISS MA'AM PUT MY MANS OUT OF MISERY PLEASE!!?
I do love that Vin tries to help Roman getting out of his shell, but it's kind of weird to me that she never noticed his tense relationship growing up when they were supposedly super close. I get that he didn't want her to see it, but maybe that was her looking through her rose colored glasses like she did with Josh 🤮
The smut? IMMACULATE. The plot? Full circle. The side characters? I can't wait to read their stores! The book? DEVOURED AND WANT MORE. I thought this book would be a quick, cute and spicy read - but now I'm ranting to my therapist about why I don't have a Roman in my life.
Perfect for readers who love sports romance with depth, this story blends heat, humor, and heart with a raw exploration of what it takes to rebuild—on the ice and in love.
October 7, 2025
I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC from Ava Hill and it was such a great read!
Roman - a beautiful Hockey player and Livinia - an ex Gold medallist Hockey Player who had to retire due to an injury / turned content creator - have known each other for years, since they were youngsters and used to be friends until they grew up and apart and she was set to marry Josh (who is a huge 🍆 BTW) ... that was until Josh decides to TEXT her on their wedding day to change his mind - now you know why I called him a 🍆!
Livinia needs to make a quick escape from the venue because she can't bare to tell her family and friends, who are waiting downstairs for the wedding to start.
A quick plan is made with her friend to escape and who is outside on his motorbike to save the day...that would be our Roman 🥰
She pleads with him to take her away and without a thought he does just that!
Time passes and they end up in Vegas at the same time, him playing Hockey and her with her friend at a book convention.
They end up going out and Livinia wants to do something adventurous as she had always been seen as a good girl - both get drunk, and what do a lot of people do in Vegas when drunk? They get married!
Waking up the next day Livinia sees the marriage certificate and panics, she sets out to find Roman and tell him they need it annulled pronto but he has other plans...he wants to use their marriage for both of their benefits.
He needs to get in with his team - which her brother is captain of - as he is know for being traded constantly and always fighting on the ice. He thinks that because everyone loves her, they will in turn love her new husband.
And in return their marriage will boost her content creating gig.
Once they both get what they want then they can go their separate ways....the only problem is Roman can't let her go!
He has been utterly in love with her for YEARS and now he finally has her as his wife, he can't think of any reason to let that end, so makes it his mission to make her fall in love with him, and to be honest he doesn't need to try hard!
Roman may seem rough around the edges on screen and in the media but off screen he is just the greenest flag there ever was!
His banter is bantering, his mouth is filthy and his love language is definitely acts of service and not just in the bedroom. I just love him!
Roman does nothing but build Lavinia up, he wants the world to see the queen that he sees and would rather sit in the background to let her shine. Its amazing to read! And i love him even more for it!
I love their chemistry, their POV's are fab, the glimpse into Romans past and his family life hurt my heart.
The boxes in his spare room - ugh! I CANNOT DEAL!
Him waiting for 2 years since she showed back up in his life - Perfection!
We all need a Roman in our lives!
Roman - a beautiful Hockey player and Livinia - an ex Gold medallist Hockey Player who had to retire due to an injury / turned content creator - have known each other for years, since they were youngsters and used to be friends until they grew up and apart and she was set to marry Josh (who is a huge 🍆 BTW) ... that was until Josh decides to TEXT her on their wedding day to change his mind - now you know why I called him a 🍆!
Livinia needs to make a quick escape from the venue because she can't bare to tell her family and friends, who are waiting downstairs for the wedding to start.
A quick plan is made with her friend to escape and who is outside on his motorbike to save the day...that would be our Roman 🥰
She pleads with him to take her away and without a thought he does just that!
Time passes and they end up in Vegas at the same time, him playing Hockey and her with her friend at a book convention.
They end up going out and Livinia wants to do something adventurous as she had always been seen as a good girl - both get drunk, and what do a lot of people do in Vegas when drunk? They get married!
Waking up the next day Livinia sees the marriage certificate and panics, she sets out to find Roman and tell him they need it annulled pronto but he has other plans...he wants to use their marriage for both of their benefits.
He needs to get in with his team - which her brother is captain of - as he is know for being traded constantly and always fighting on the ice. He thinks that because everyone loves her, they will in turn love her new husband.
And in return their marriage will boost her content creating gig.
Once they both get what they want then they can go their separate ways....the only problem is Roman can't let her go!
He has been utterly in love with her for YEARS and now he finally has her as his wife, he can't think of any reason to let that end, so makes it his mission to make her fall in love with him, and to be honest he doesn't need to try hard!
Roman may seem rough around the edges on screen and in the media but off screen he is just the greenest flag there ever was!
His banter is bantering, his mouth is filthy and his love language is definitely acts of service and not just in the bedroom. I just love him!
Roman does nothing but build Lavinia up, he wants the world to see the queen that he sees and would rather sit in the background to let her shine. Its amazing to read! And i love him even more for it!
I love their chemistry, their POV's are fab, the glimpse into Romans past and his family life hurt my heart.
The boxes in his spare room - ugh! I CANNOT DEAL!
Him waiting for 2 years since she showed back up in his life - Perfection!
We all need a Roman in our lives!
September 21, 2025
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Ava Hill for the ARC! 💌🏒 I can't stop raving about this book, it's definitely going to be one of my favorite hockey romances. Ava Hill has crafted a heartwarming 💖, spicy 🌶️, and swoon-worthy 😍 story. Roman Maddox has set the bar HIGH!!! 🚨✨
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience (What happens in Vegas, doesn’t stay there 🎰🍸)
👶➡️❤️ Childhood Friends to Lovers
🫠 He Falls First and HARD!
🏒📸 Hockey Player x Content Creator (Former Hockey Player FMC)
🧛♀️✨ Twilight References Galore!!!
This has been, hands down, my favorite read so far this year! I DEVOURED this book in one sitting. I simply couldn't get enough of Lavinia and Roman. Being loved by Roman is the ultimate goal, like those reels or TikToks that suggest the types of books you read define how you want to be loved. Well, Roman is now my standard. The yearning he feels for Lavinia, how he always supports her, builds her up, and notices the little things, is truly special.
The story begins with Lavinia being left at the altar by her ex, who is basically a man-child and also Roman’s old hockey teammate. Lavinia and Roman grew up together under the shadow of their fathers' hockey careers. Both main characters are hockey players. Lavinia is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and PWHL player who has retired to become a content creator and podcaster, while Roman is an NHL Stanley Cup winner. They haven’t really spoken in years... until Lavinia is left at the altar, and Roman becomes her getaway driver on his motorcycle and takes her for ice cream. I love how they reconnect slowly over a few months with cute text banter and chats.
Both characters experience significant growth throughout the story, supporting each other in the smallest ways. Their relationship begins as a friendship and evolves into a marriage of convenience that eventually grows intimate. The development of each character, including the supporting roles, is exceptionally well done. They learn so much about each other, mainly Lavinia, since Roman is already obsessed with her. Roman struggles to let people in due to family trauma, but he is a genuine softie who speaks multiple languages, is a cat dad, and spends time with his elderly neighbor. The found family dynamic and their group banter are amazing. It starts as a slow burn, but once the spice hits, it’s fiery!
Shoutout to the Twilight references 🧛♂️🌲, perfection! And the Boston setting 🏙️ was such a fun touch.
SPOILER 🚨: I NEED 📢 the next books for all the HoBros + Snack Pack IMMEDIATELY. Jules & Drew 👀, Sage & Ford 👀,I see the potential and I’m ready for it. The whole friend group dynamic was chef’s kiss 👌✨.
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience (What happens in Vegas, doesn’t stay there 🎰🍸)
👶➡️❤️ Childhood Friends to Lovers
🫠 He Falls First and HARD!
🏒📸 Hockey Player x Content Creator (Former Hockey Player FMC)
🧛♀️✨ Twilight References Galore!!!
This has been, hands down, my favorite read so far this year! I DEVOURED this book in one sitting. I simply couldn't get enough of Lavinia and Roman. Being loved by Roman is the ultimate goal, like those reels or TikToks that suggest the types of books you read define how you want to be loved. Well, Roman is now my standard. The yearning he feels for Lavinia, how he always supports her, builds her up, and notices the little things, is truly special.
The story begins with Lavinia being left at the altar by her ex, who is basically a man-child and also Roman’s old hockey teammate. Lavinia and Roman grew up together under the shadow of their fathers' hockey careers. Both main characters are hockey players. Lavinia is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and PWHL player who has retired to become a content creator and podcaster, while Roman is an NHL Stanley Cup winner. They haven’t really spoken in years... until Lavinia is left at the altar, and Roman becomes her getaway driver on his motorcycle and takes her for ice cream. I love how they reconnect slowly over a few months with cute text banter and chats.
Both characters experience significant growth throughout the story, supporting each other in the smallest ways. Their relationship begins as a friendship and evolves into a marriage of convenience that eventually grows intimate. The development of each character, including the supporting roles, is exceptionally well done. They learn so much about each other, mainly Lavinia, since Roman is already obsessed with her. Roman struggles to let people in due to family trauma, but he is a genuine softie who speaks multiple languages, is a cat dad, and spends time with his elderly neighbor. The found family dynamic and their group banter are amazing. It starts as a slow burn, but once the spice hits, it’s fiery!
Shoutout to the Twilight references 🧛♂️🌲, perfection! And the Boston setting 🏙️ was such a fun touch.
SPOILER 🚨: I NEED 📢 the next books for all the HoBros + Snack Pack IMMEDIATELY. Jules & Drew 👀, Sage & Ford 👀,I see the potential and I’m ready for it. The whole friend group dynamic was chef’s kiss 👌✨.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2025
If you’re the kind of reader who loves all the tropes, this book might just be the perfect pick for you.
The story kicks off with Lavinia Callahan, a retired hockey player, being left at the altar by a man who quickly proves to be a menace. In true rom-com fashion, she bumps into her childhood best friend, Roman Maddox, now a professional hockey player, who ends up as her getaway driver. That’s just the beginning of their second-chance journey.
Rebound is a breezy, one-sitting read, funny, charming, and full of moments that make you laugh, smile, and chuckle. The banter is sharp, the dialogues are entertaining, and the characters are what really set this book apart. Beyond Lavinia and Roman, the supporting cast shines too, from Jules, Lavinia’s best friend, to the Titan team players who each add colour and humour to the narrative.
The book juggles a lot, childhood friends-to-lovers, runaway bride, Vegas wedding, fake marriage, sports romance, and slow burn with plenty of spice, and yet it all comes together organically. The relationship develops like peeling layers of an onion: small disclosures, growing intimacy, and moments that gradually make you root for them both as individuals and as a couple.
What stood out most is the nuance. We see the contrast between Roman’s complicated, estranged family and Lavinia’s supportive one. We get to explore women in sports, the realities of retirement, and the search for second careers after sports, an often overlooked angle. There’s also a strong thread of reclaiming your narrative and learning not to care about outside judgement.
And perhaps most refreshing: Roman and Lavinia are in their thirties. So often, sports romance characters are portrayed as if they have “figured it all out” by a certain age, but here we see two people still wrestling with self-discovery, past wounds, and the longing for a life that feels rooted. Their emotional complexity makes them all the more relatable.
That said, I did feel the book could have been a little tighter. At times, the same questions and insecurities resurfaced again and again. What the characters were asking themselves early on were still the same things they were mulling over halfway through, even three-quarters in. This slight repetition made the middle feel like it was circling in loops when a punchier progression might have kept the momentum sharper.
Even with that, Roman and Lavinia easily became one of my favourite romance pairs, solid on their own, and irresistible together. Rebound is an absolute treat for anyone looking for a fun, layered, and heartwarming sports romance.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Ava Hill for the ARC.
The story kicks off with Lavinia Callahan, a retired hockey player, being left at the altar by a man who quickly proves to be a menace. In true rom-com fashion, she bumps into her childhood best friend, Roman Maddox, now a professional hockey player, who ends up as her getaway driver. That’s just the beginning of their second-chance journey.
Rebound is a breezy, one-sitting read, funny, charming, and full of moments that make you laugh, smile, and chuckle. The banter is sharp, the dialogues are entertaining, and the characters are what really set this book apart. Beyond Lavinia and Roman, the supporting cast shines too, from Jules, Lavinia’s best friend, to the Titan team players who each add colour and humour to the narrative.
The book juggles a lot, childhood friends-to-lovers, runaway bride, Vegas wedding, fake marriage, sports romance, and slow burn with plenty of spice, and yet it all comes together organically. The relationship develops like peeling layers of an onion: small disclosures, growing intimacy, and moments that gradually make you root for them both as individuals and as a couple.
What stood out most is the nuance. We see the contrast between Roman’s complicated, estranged family and Lavinia’s supportive one. We get to explore women in sports, the realities of retirement, and the search for second careers after sports, an often overlooked angle. There’s also a strong thread of reclaiming your narrative and learning not to care about outside judgement.
And perhaps most refreshing: Roman and Lavinia are in their thirties. So often, sports romance characters are portrayed as if they have “figured it all out” by a certain age, but here we see two people still wrestling with self-discovery, past wounds, and the longing for a life that feels rooted. Their emotional complexity makes them all the more relatable.
That said, I did feel the book could have been a little tighter. At times, the same questions and insecurities resurfaced again and again. What the characters were asking themselves early on were still the same things they were mulling over halfway through, even three-quarters in. This slight repetition made the middle feel like it was circling in loops when a punchier progression might have kept the momentum sharper.
Even with that, Roman and Lavinia easily became one of my favourite romance pairs, solid on their own, and irresistible together. Rebound is an absolute treat for anyone looking for a fun, layered, and heartwarming sports romance.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Ava Hill for the ARC.
September 30, 2025
What to expect:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💗 Friends to Lovers
🫶 He Falls First
💋 Hockey Player X Content Creator
⛸️ Former Hockey Player FMC
📚 BLURB 📚
Lavinia Callahan didn't intend to make Roman Maddox her rebound.
When his childhood best friend is left at the altar, Roman is there to make things better. For months, he's there for her however she needs, until one night changes everything. One night, and he goes from eligible bachelor to very unexpected newlywed. Lavinia Callahan is a three-time Olympic medalist whose PWHL career ended in heartbreak after an injury. She's always been hockey's golden girl, but without the game, and fresh off being ditched on her wedding day, she has no idea who she is anymore. She might have millions of followers, she wants to figure out who she actually is, without the cheers of others. Months later, she heads to Vegas on a girls' only trip and leaves with the craziest souvenir possible: a husband. She didn't think she'd be wearing another man's ring anytime soon, but apparently all it took was a few drinks and a chapel. The logical thing would be to get an annulment. But what if staying married actually fixes both of their problems? Roman finally looks like more than just a hothead, and Lavinia can prove she's worth being loved. One season. That's the deal. For one season, they'll stay married, prove everyone wrong, and then walk away. Simple… right? This could be the biggest win of their lives, or the messiest loss yet.
Now my Review!!
Oh lord!!! I feel so spoilt! Rebound by Ava Hill is what you call finding the perfect read in the middle of the night!! If you want something that will take you out of a reading slump…read this! I enjoyed every bits of this book! The story centered around an ex-hockey player and current content creator, Lavinia and my boy Roman who is also a hockey player. These two have been friends all through childhood before they parted ways. Fast forward to two years later, A major incident happened that made these two got reunited and since then everything has just been one roller coaster to another. I love my man obsessed! If he’s not obsessed with me, then I don’t need him. Roman is a definition of my wife is me and me is my wife😅 He took his role as a husband VERYYYY seriously. I just love that this book had one thing I’ll always support and recommend in every relationship and that is “good communication” there was no unnecessary need for drama, they communicated their feelings for each other perfectly, I loved they way they loved themselves. I’ll always recommend this book!
October 7, 2025
Title: Rebound
Author: Ava Hill
Genre: Sports Romance
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love a good hockey romance and this one is no exception! When I think of Grumpy x Sunshine characters, this fits the bill. Roman being the quote on quote “bad boy” and Lavinia being the “good girl”. They are childhood friends who fell out of touch growing up because of their relationship choices. Then when unexpected things came up, they found each other again. The story just gets juicier as time goes by and it’s a pleasant surprise to see what happens next.
Besides the main characters, I appreciate how the other characters were intertwined with the story and each other. It’s nice to see the relationships that were formed and how each of the characters complemented each other. The story itself had quite a bit of drama and brought up different perspectives on when society tends to “judge a book by its cover”. I would’ve loved to see more of Lavinia’s story. It mentions her history with hockey a few times, but I didn’t really get that much of a sense of it. It could’ve used more hockey action in general since it is a Sports Romance. I got a lot of the romance, but not really the hockey part. Though the relationships built with the team and what ties them is hockey, so that was nice that it became the reason they came together in the end besides the relationship between Lavinia and Roman.
This book made me swoon. Anyone would want their dream guy to be like Roman Maddox. He truly does love his girl and only his girl. And Lavinia really stuck up for Roman and tries despite having atrocious choice of partners in the past. I loved that they helped each other grow from start to finish. I didn’t feel like things were predictable, which I love because sometimes it takes away from the story. I love that it was relatable and shows what it’s like to find the one! Excited to see what’s in store for the next characters because we got a glimpse of their personalities, but it left me wanting to learn more! Amazing writing for a first book.
I received an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are entirely my own! Thank you to Ava Hill and Love Notes PR for choosing me to receive an early copy! (:
Author: Ava Hill
Genre: Sports Romance
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love a good hockey romance and this one is no exception! When I think of Grumpy x Sunshine characters, this fits the bill. Roman being the quote on quote “bad boy” and Lavinia being the “good girl”. They are childhood friends who fell out of touch growing up because of their relationship choices. Then when unexpected things came up, they found each other again. The story just gets juicier as time goes by and it’s a pleasant surprise to see what happens next.
Besides the main characters, I appreciate how the other characters were intertwined with the story and each other. It’s nice to see the relationships that were formed and how each of the characters complemented each other. The story itself had quite a bit of drama and brought up different perspectives on when society tends to “judge a book by its cover”. I would’ve loved to see more of Lavinia’s story. It mentions her history with hockey a few times, but I didn’t really get that much of a sense of it. It could’ve used more hockey action in general since it is a Sports Romance. I got a lot of the romance, but not really the hockey part. Though the relationships built with the team and what ties them is hockey, so that was nice that it became the reason they came together in the end besides the relationship between Lavinia and Roman.
This book made me swoon. Anyone would want their dream guy to be like Roman Maddox. He truly does love his girl and only his girl. And Lavinia really stuck up for Roman and tries despite having atrocious choice of partners in the past. I loved that they helped each other grow from start to finish. I didn’t feel like things were predictable, which I love because sometimes it takes away from the story. I love that it was relatable and shows what it’s like to find the one! Excited to see what’s in store for the next characters because we got a glimpse of their personalities, but it left me wanting to learn more! Amazing writing for a first book.
I received an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are entirely my own! Thank you to Ava Hill and Love Notes PR for choosing me to receive an early copy! (:
October 19, 2025
What in the name of Sports Romance is this book? It's amazing. It's fabulous. It's everything. Making me cry, making me swoon, making me smile like an idiot, and making me emotional all at the same time. This book is everything.
I can't believe that this is the debut novel of an author because it's written so well. Apart from the romance section, there are certain dialogues and certain scenes where I felt like the author has straight away read my mind. Because there were some discussions about love triangles, discussing that a girl has the absolute power to make decisions for herself, and she should not be known by the name of her father, her brother, as someone's sister, or as someone's daughter, or as someone's wife. And many more instances where I was like, damn, this is what I think. And the author has just written them so well.
This has by far the most chaotic marriage of convenience romance I have ever read. They are married. Okay, mostly what happens in a drunk marriage is that they get married, and the realisation dawns upon them when they wake up together the next morning. But in this book, it was so different, and it was so fucking hilarious. I just can't get over it.
Also, Roman — this guy deserves everything in the world. I was so happy when Keita was taking a stand for him, when Keita was literally assessing every person who dared to hurt him or who she thought might hurt him. I was so happy.
This book also made me realise something about the good boy vs. bad boy trope.
Good boys, the golden boys, often hide their darker, worse sides behind their charming, goody-two-shoes image. But bad boys? They show you their worst sides upfront, no sugarcoating, no pretence. And beneath that grumpy, rough exterior, they often have the purest hearts.
So yeah, in my opinion, bad boys are better because what you see is what you get, and behind that, there’s real gold.
Now comes the female main character, Lavinia. She is the sunshiny girl, and I love her so much. She and Jules, OH MY GOD - friendship goals, literal friendship goals. They are so cute, adorable, and, soul sisters in the book.
I love Roman and Lavina's banter. In fact, everything Roman says in the book — he has some kind of charm about him. The way he speaks, the way he oozes out sarcasm in his dry tone that makes you laugh so much. This guy, I tell you, he is everything. Oh my God, new fictional boyfriend unlocked.
I was a little mad at everyone for excluding Roman from everything, for not giving him a chance. Like, seriously, I was hating all of them. I was like, you gotta have some self-conscience! You should not be this petty to him. And it broke my heart to see everyone treating him like that. But when Lavina entered, everything changed. And it was so cute, so adorable, so hilarious to see them forming a found family together.
I loved Drew and Jules together, and I can't wait to read their book. Please tell me they have a book together; otherwise, I will die, I swear. I love them so much. I want their book to happen. Drew and Jules; their banter, their fight, pure enemies-to-lover vibes. Oh my God, please tell me a book is coming.
I can't believe that this is the debut novel of an author because it's written so well. Apart from the romance section, there are certain dialogues and certain scenes where I felt like the author has straight away read my mind. Because there were some discussions about love triangles, discussing that a girl has the absolute power to make decisions for herself, and she should not be known by the name of her father, her brother, as someone's sister, or as someone's daughter, or as someone's wife. And many more instances where I was like, damn, this is what I think. And the author has just written them so well.
This has by far the most chaotic marriage of convenience romance I have ever read. They are married. Okay, mostly what happens in a drunk marriage is that they get married, and the realisation dawns upon them when they wake up together the next morning. But in this book, it was so different, and it was so fucking hilarious. I just can't get over it.
Also, Roman — this guy deserves everything in the world. I was so happy when Keita was taking a stand for him, when Keita was literally assessing every person who dared to hurt him or who she thought might hurt him. I was so happy.
This book also made me realise something about the good boy vs. bad boy trope.
Good boys, the golden boys, often hide their darker, worse sides behind their charming, goody-two-shoes image. But bad boys? They show you their worst sides upfront, no sugarcoating, no pretence. And beneath that grumpy, rough exterior, they often have the purest hearts.
So yeah, in my opinion, bad boys are better because what you see is what you get, and behind that, there’s real gold.
Now comes the female main character, Lavinia. She is the sunshiny girl, and I love her so much. She and Jules, OH MY GOD - friendship goals, literal friendship goals. They are so cute, adorable, and, soul sisters in the book.
I love Roman and Lavina's banter. In fact, everything Roman says in the book — he has some kind of charm about him. The way he speaks, the way he oozes out sarcasm in his dry tone that makes you laugh so much. This guy, I tell you, he is everything. Oh my God, new fictional boyfriend unlocked.
I was a little mad at everyone for excluding Roman from everything, for not giving him a chance. Like, seriously, I was hating all of them. I was like, you gotta have some self-conscience! You should not be this petty to him. And it broke my heart to see everyone treating him like that. But when Lavina entered, everything changed. And it was so cute, so adorable, so hilarious to see them forming a found family together.
I loved Drew and Jules together, and I can't wait to read their book. Please tell me they have a book together; otherwise, I will die, I swear. I love them so much. I want their book to happen. Drew and Jules; their banter, their fight, pure enemies-to-lover vibes. Oh my God, please tell me a book is coming.
September 27, 2025
📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚
Rebound by Ava Hill
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (4.5/5 stars)
Thank you to @lovenotes.pr for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lavinia, Olympic hockey legend turned podcaster, never expected to be dumped on her wedding day. Even more shocking? Finding comfort in her childhood best friend, Roman - the same man who’s been avoiding her for two years, and who just so happens to play on the same team as her runaway fiancé.
What Lavinia doesn’t know is that Roman has loved her since they were teens. Known on the ice as The Brutalizer for his infamous fights, Roman is used to being everyone’s villain. But when he’s traded to their hometown team, the Boston Titans, he sees a chance to be close to Lavinia for good. Too bad the team - especially captain Drew, Lavinia’s twin brother - wants nothing to do with him.
After an impulsive night in Vegas, everything changes. Lavinia wakes up wearing Roman’s ring. He proposes they stay married for one season. With Lavinia (the team sweetheart) by his side, Roman might just win over the Titans and secure his place in Boston. But Roman isn’t interested in temporary; he’s ready to prove to Lavinia that he’s the safe place and the forever love she’s always deserved.
I absolutely adored this book. My favorite thing? Lavinia, the bad@$$ Olympian. Female ice hockey players are not celebrated enough, and I love that Lavinia was acknowledged as the goddess she is. She is the kind of positive role model that I want for my daughter in real life.
And Roman? Roman is everything I lust after- the sexy, tattooed bad boy with a tragic past and a secret sweetheart core. Just look at the way he loves being a cat dad. You can't be an animal lover and a bad person. His devotion to Lavinia made me melt, while his bedroom skills had me swooning. Roman is A+ book husband material.
Perfect if you are in the mood for a spicy hockey romance with lots of heart.
For fans of: 🏒 Hockey romance | 💍 Vegas wedding | 💕 Marriage of convenience | 👫 Friends to lovers | 🥇 Childhood best friends | ⚡ Brother’s rival
#ARCReview #Rebound #AvaHill #SportsRomance #HockeyRomance #MarriageOfConvenience #FriendsToLovers #Bookstagram
Rebound by Ava Hill
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (4.5/5 stars)
Thank you to @lovenotes.pr for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lavinia, Olympic hockey legend turned podcaster, never expected to be dumped on her wedding day. Even more shocking? Finding comfort in her childhood best friend, Roman - the same man who’s been avoiding her for two years, and who just so happens to play on the same team as her runaway fiancé.
What Lavinia doesn’t know is that Roman has loved her since they were teens. Known on the ice as The Brutalizer for his infamous fights, Roman is used to being everyone’s villain. But when he’s traded to their hometown team, the Boston Titans, he sees a chance to be close to Lavinia for good. Too bad the team - especially captain Drew, Lavinia’s twin brother - wants nothing to do with him.
After an impulsive night in Vegas, everything changes. Lavinia wakes up wearing Roman’s ring. He proposes they stay married for one season. With Lavinia (the team sweetheart) by his side, Roman might just win over the Titans and secure his place in Boston. But Roman isn’t interested in temporary; he’s ready to prove to Lavinia that he’s the safe place and the forever love she’s always deserved.
I absolutely adored this book. My favorite thing? Lavinia, the bad@$$ Olympian. Female ice hockey players are not celebrated enough, and I love that Lavinia was acknowledged as the goddess she is. She is the kind of positive role model that I want for my daughter in real life.
And Roman? Roman is everything I lust after- the sexy, tattooed bad boy with a tragic past and a secret sweetheart core. Just look at the way he loves being a cat dad. You can't be an animal lover and a bad person. His devotion to Lavinia made me melt, while his bedroom skills had me swooning. Roman is A+ book husband material.
Perfect if you are in the mood for a spicy hockey romance with lots of heart.
For fans of: 🏒 Hockey romance | 💍 Vegas wedding | 💕 Marriage of convenience | 👫 Friends to lovers | 🥇 Childhood best friends | ⚡ Brother’s rival
#ARCReview #Rebound #AvaHill #SportsRomance #HockeyRomance #MarriageOfConvenience #FriendsToLovers #Bookstagram
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews