What do you think?
Rate this book
Probably Never
One relentless hockey player. One guarded heart. One connection that changes everything.
Axel is relentless.
Luca is guarded.
This was never supposed to happen.
Axel Hughes is used to getting what he wants on and off the ice. Signed to the NHL’s newest expansion team, he has a plan, a purpose, and zero time for distractions.
Then he meets Luca Vaughn and refuses to let him go.
Luca doesn’t do attachments. Not after a childhood in foster care. Not while juggling grad school and two jobs just to stay afloat. The last thing he needs is a stubborn, too-charming hockey player determined to wedge himself into Luca’s carefully controlled life.
But Axel doesn’t back off.
He pushes. He stays. He shows up.
And when Luca loses one of the jobs he depends on, Axel becomes the one person he can’t avoid—and the one person he might not want to.
Lines blur. Walls crack. And what starts as resistance turns into something neither of them can fight.
Because some players don’t quit, and some hearts aren't meant to stay closed.
MM Hockey Player Romance
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity
Hurt/Comfort
Found Family
Class Difference and Economic Gap
Foster Care Trauma / Abandonment
First Emotional Vulnerability
Retribution
No Third-Act Breakup
Guaranteed HEA
Probably Never is a standalone MM Romance.
Axel is relentless.
Luca is guarded.
This was never supposed to happen.
Axel Hughes is used to getting what he wants on and off the ice. Signed to the NHL’s newest expansion team, he has a plan, a purpose, and zero time for distractions.
Then he meets Luca Vaughn and refuses to let him go.
Luca doesn’t do attachments. Not after a childhood in foster care. Not while juggling grad school and two jobs just to stay afloat. The last thing he needs is a stubborn, too-charming hockey player determined to wedge himself into Luca’s carefully controlled life.
But Axel doesn’t back off.
He pushes. He stays. He shows up.
And when Luca loses one of the jobs he depends on, Axel becomes the one person he can’t avoid—and the one person he might not want to.
Lines blur. Walls crack. And what starts as resistance turns into something neither of them can fight.
Because some players don’t quit, and some hearts aren't meant to stay closed.
MM Hockey Player Romance
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity
Hurt/Comfort
Found Family
Class Difference and Economic Gap
Foster Care Trauma / Abandonment
First Emotional Vulnerability
Retribution
No Third-Act Breakup
Guaranteed HEA
Probably Never is a standalone MM Romance.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Emerson Beckett
20 books131 followersEmerson Beckett is no longer new to the publishing world. As an avid sports fan and lover of well-written M/M romance books, Emerson loves her new career as an author of gay romance. It’s even more fulfilling for her when she can combine the two.
The journey to becoming an author started with an idea while reading on the sofa. That idea became an email that ultimately resulted in Emerson using those teacher skills to edit novels for three phenomenal MM romance authors. The third referral led to an opportunity to co-write a book series with one of the most genuine and kindest people she’s ever had the pleasure of knowing- Rheland Richmond.
Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, The Portland Protectors Series, and the San Diego Storm Series. She has 16 published books.
Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 35 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd and five cats.
The journey to becoming an author started with an idea while reading on the sofa. That idea became an email that ultimately resulted in Emerson using those teacher skills to edit novels for three phenomenal MM romance authors. The third referral led to an opportunity to co-write a book series with one of the most genuine and kindest people she’s ever had the pleasure of knowing- Rheland Richmond.
Emerson is the co-author of The Package Deal Series, The Portland Protectors Series, and the San Diego Storm Series. She has 16 published books.
Besides being a retired teacher and author, Emerson lives in North Carolina and has been married to the same man for 35 years. She is the mother of three beautiful adults, one of whom is proudly part of the LGBTQ Community and completely responsible for her addiction to MM Romance. Even though the kids no longer live at home, they filled the empty nest with an Australian Shepherd and five cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 7, 2026
Tropes: hurt/comfort, forced proximity, rich/poor, opposites attract
Feels: 1.5/5
Steam*: 1/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: past abandonment by parent, foster care, separated from twin at birth, bad parents, parent with Alzheimer's who eventually passes away, near death experience, claustrophobia
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Axel's ex shows up, joining his hockey team and that creates a little drama. But they trust each other and no one is interested in anyone else.
2.25 stars
This is the first book that I have read by this author and this is an incredibly ironic title. When will I ever read a book again by this author? I gotta crack the joke... Probably never. It didn't leave a good impression.
This book triggered my bullshit alarms from the very beginning, the editor's note. I was thinking, why does a doctor/editor need to pimp the sensitivity process for this story? What's coming? And it didn't deliver anything deeply psychological in my opinion. Yeah there were some deep topics, but it wasn't treated well, it was giving dramatic caricature.
Luca is a 28-year-old virgin. His mother surrendered him when he was 5 years old, and he grew up in foster care and had some bad experiences. He hasn't been willing to trust anyone to have a relationship. He is putting himself through school, to get his MSW. He wants to work with seniors. He has a job in social work, but he's so poor he's working two other jobs too. One night at his nightclub bartending job, he's a little late for work and his boss fires him spectacularly in front of NHL hockey players, including Axel the other mmc. Axel is intrigued by Luca, and he feels responsible for his firing, so he wants to make it up to him financially. Luca refuses, but Axel hunts him down and makes a difference in his life anyway. Spoiling him financially. He manipulates Luca into spending time with him and taking his money, and as they spend more time together they fall for each other.
Axel is 30, bi. He has played hockey in Europe and been successful there, and now he's moving to the US to join an NHL team there. Apparently he's coming over as a star player and gets named the captain immediately. Which is incredibly unrealistic. He's also extremely wealthy and a businessman, and he's plotting a big takeover of a massive company, to get revenge on his evil stepmom who forced his father to abandon him and his mother, and separated him from his secret twin brother he didn't know he had until he was like 20 years old. And then the book shows Axel and his dad over the course of the book mending their relationship, his dad is a slimy money chaser who chose his rich wife over his sons for all their lives. And he never had any real redeeming moments, he was a superficial character.
The dynamic between Axel and Luca could have been promising. It is entertaining to see someone wealthy and popular chasing someone living in poverty who won't give them the time of day, and snarks back at him. But it didn't really deliver on that, and so much was cheesy and overdramatic and unrealistic. And it wasn't charming enough for me to overlook it's sins.
The interest that Axel had in Luca was weird for the first 33%. It would be more understandable if it was insta love or instalust, but it was this weird interest that wasn't sexual or romantic at first, and it grew over the weeks into something more. He was all in with pursuing Luca, but with no motivation that was realistic - he didn't want to sleep with him or be his boyfriend. And all this time that Luca and Axel are spending together is unrealistic, given all the other competing priorities that Axel would have as a professional hockey player. And add to that that he is some business Mogul as well. It's wild. They also talk in a trite way.
About this scene "I wasted no time. “Have you ever seen a naked man before?” He shook his head. “Only myself.” Another first that would be mine."... Ew, this was giving me the ick. Its giving the vibe of an MF romance where the FMC is always the purest of virgins and the MMC is a manwhore. I didn't like that Luca was such a virgin, it didn't seem realistic and he gave in to Axel pretty easy and it just made Luca's character weaker, because he was this naive guy, a slave to his horniness discovering sex for the first time. He was already not an equal to Axel in so many ways, the author could have at least let him be his sexual equal.
The way Axel threw money around was unattractive. It was nice when he did some charity work, but when I see a successful businessman recklessly throwing money around, buying buildings in fits of emotion, it just makes me think less of them, they aren't smart and they are superficial. Traveling by private jet is a little much. I have a really hard time believing this guy is a devoted hockey player with how much time he spends doing business stuff and indulging his boyfriend. It's not believable for a professional hockey player to be this unfocused on hockey, yet succeeding in hockey. And you don't come over to the NHL at age 30 and be welcomed into it with such success. That's not a thing that happens.
At 52%, this scene pissed me off so much. Luca enjoys his job working as a social worker with the elderly. He has worked hard to go to school so that he could achieve the dream job he wanted. And this mother f***** Axel thinks he can suggest to him that he give up his job and find another career, so that he can take a month long vacation with Axel during summers?! So selfish, kindly f*** off Axel!
For a book about an NHL player, there was shockingly little hockey. 60% in, and this is the first time the NHL player is showing up for work. Axel doesn't dedicate enough time and energy to hockey to make it make sense that he is a successful player.
I hate when an author throws in comments like this one where characters are in the present and there is a hindsight moment dropped in, so cheesy. "If I had known that was the last time I’d see her, I would have stayed longer."
Some notable moments:
"“Can’t you just trust me? We had a nice conversation in the lot. I won’t hurt you. I promise.” “That’s what all stalker murderers say, and I don’t trust anyone. I’m hanging up now. And I might even block your number.” Before he could tempt me into more banter, I stabbed the end button so hard that my finger hurt."
"Axel stared at me for a long moment, making me wonder if I needed to make a run for it."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 1.5/5
Steam*: 1/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: past abandonment by parent, foster care, separated from twin at birth, bad parents, parent with Alzheimer's who eventually passes away, near death experience, claustrophobia
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Axel's ex shows up, joining his hockey team and that creates a little drama. But they trust each other and no one is interested in anyone else.
2.25 stars
This is the first book that I have read by this author and this is an incredibly ironic title. When will I ever read a book again by this author? I gotta crack the joke... Probably never. It didn't leave a good impression.
This book triggered my bullshit alarms from the very beginning, the editor's note. I was thinking, why does a doctor/editor need to pimp the sensitivity process for this story? What's coming? And it didn't deliver anything deeply psychological in my opinion. Yeah there were some deep topics, but it wasn't treated well, it was giving dramatic caricature.
Luca is a 28-year-old virgin. His mother surrendered him when he was 5 years old, and he grew up in foster care and had some bad experiences. He hasn't been willing to trust anyone to have a relationship. He is putting himself through school, to get his MSW. He wants to work with seniors. He has a job in social work, but he's so poor he's working two other jobs too. One night at his nightclub bartending job, he's a little late for work and his boss fires him spectacularly in front of NHL hockey players, including Axel the other mmc. Axel is intrigued by Luca, and he feels responsible for his firing, so he wants to make it up to him financially. Luca refuses, but Axel hunts him down and makes a difference in his life anyway. Spoiling him financially. He manipulates Luca into spending time with him and taking his money, and as they spend more time together they fall for each other.
Axel is 30, bi. He has played hockey in Europe and been successful there, and now he's moving to the US to join an NHL team there. Apparently he's coming over as a star player and gets named the captain immediately. Which is incredibly unrealistic. He's also extremely wealthy and a businessman, and he's plotting a big takeover of a massive company, to get revenge on his evil stepmom who forced his father to abandon him and his mother, and separated him from his secret twin brother he didn't know he had until he was like 20 years old. And then the book shows Axel and his dad over the course of the book mending their relationship, his dad is a slimy money chaser who chose his rich wife over his sons for all their lives. And he never had any real redeeming moments, he was a superficial character.
The dynamic between Axel and Luca could have been promising. It is entertaining to see someone wealthy and popular chasing someone living in poverty who won't give them the time of day, and snarks back at him. But it didn't really deliver on that, and so much was cheesy and overdramatic and unrealistic. And it wasn't charming enough for me to overlook it's sins.
The interest that Axel had in Luca was weird for the first 33%. It would be more understandable if it was insta love or instalust, but it was this weird interest that wasn't sexual or romantic at first, and it grew over the weeks into something more. He was all in with pursuing Luca, but with no motivation that was realistic - he didn't want to sleep with him or be his boyfriend. And all this time that Luca and Axel are spending together is unrealistic, given all the other competing priorities that Axel would have as a professional hockey player. And add to that that he is some business Mogul as well. It's wild. They also talk in a trite way.
About this scene "I wasted no time. “Have you ever seen a naked man before?” He shook his head. “Only myself.” Another first that would be mine."... Ew, this was giving me the ick. Its giving the vibe of an MF romance where the FMC is always the purest of virgins and the MMC is a manwhore. I didn't like that Luca was such a virgin, it didn't seem realistic and he gave in to Axel pretty easy and it just made Luca's character weaker, because he was this naive guy, a slave to his horniness discovering sex for the first time. He was already not an equal to Axel in so many ways, the author could have at least let him be his sexual equal.
The way Axel threw money around was unattractive. It was nice when he did some charity work, but when I see a successful businessman recklessly throwing money around, buying buildings in fits of emotion, it just makes me think less of them, they aren't smart and they are superficial. Traveling by private jet is a little much. I have a really hard time believing this guy is a devoted hockey player with how much time he spends doing business stuff and indulging his boyfriend. It's not believable for a professional hockey player to be this unfocused on hockey, yet succeeding in hockey. And you don't come over to the NHL at age 30 and be welcomed into it with such success. That's not a thing that happens.
At 52%, this scene pissed me off so much. Luca enjoys his job working as a social worker with the elderly. He has worked hard to go to school so that he could achieve the dream job he wanted. And this mother f***** Axel thinks he can suggest to him that he give up his job and find another career, so that he can take a month long vacation with Axel during summers?! So selfish, kindly f*** off Axel!
For a book about an NHL player, there was shockingly little hockey. 60% in, and this is the first time the NHL player is showing up for work. Axel doesn't dedicate enough time and energy to hockey to make it make sense that he is a successful player.
I hate when an author throws in comments like this one where characters are in the present and there is a hindsight moment dropped in, so cheesy. "If I had known that was the last time I’d see her, I would have stayed longer."
Some notable moments:
"“Can’t you just trust me? We had a nice conversation in the lot. I won’t hurt you. I promise.” “That’s what all stalker murderers say, and I don’t trust anyone. I’m hanging up now. And I might even block your number.” Before he could tempt me into more banter, I stabbed the end button so hard that my finger hurt."
"Axel stared at me for a long moment, making me wonder if I needed to make a run for it."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
"𝙿𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚖𝚎, 𝙰𝚡𝚎𝚕."
You can always count on Beckett to bring the absolute sweetness to a romance, but lately she's been killing me with these tears-inducing prologues! I swear she likes to break readers hearts at the start just so she can slowly put them back together along with the MCs. And that's exactly what Axel and Luca did for one another. They helped to heal each other's hearts.
"𝙸𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎?"
I loved how controlling and demanding Axel was and how Luca did not just take his shit. Even though it would have been easy for Luca to just let Axel take over everything and care for him, Luca still wanted to stand on his own two feet. He had a pride in what he'd accomplished coming from basically nothing. I'm just happy he has someone in his corner now while he does it.
Both men have pasts that hurt them and helped shape them into the men they are today. They've guarded their hearts, but can't seem to stop themselves from opening them back up to one another. It was very sweet seeing these two grow together and watching Luca gain confidence made me smile. The epilogue was oh so cute. I love that we get a distant future look and get to see Axel and Luca living their dream life together.
You can always count on Beckett to bring the absolute sweetness to a romance, but lately she's been killing me with these tears-inducing prologues! I swear she likes to break readers hearts at the start just so she can slowly put them back together along with the MCs. And that's exactly what Axel and Luca did for one another. They helped to heal each other's hearts.
"𝙸𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎?"
I loved how controlling and demanding Axel was and how Luca did not just take his shit. Even though it would have been easy for Luca to just let Axel take over everything and care for him, Luca still wanted to stand on his own two feet. He had a pride in what he'd accomplished coming from basically nothing. I'm just happy he has someone in his corner now while he does it.
Both men have pasts that hurt them and helped shape them into the men they are today. They've guarded their hearts, but can't seem to stop themselves from opening them back up to one another. It was very sweet seeing these two grow together and watching Luca gain confidence made me smile. The epilogue was oh so cute. I love that we get a distant future look and get to see Axel and Luca living their dream life together.
May 6, 2026
Luca and Axel.
I loved their story. I loved that Axel would not let Luca push him away and that he only wanted Luca to have the best life possible.
I loved that Luca didn’t give up on himself. He was adorably stubborn and wasn’t just going to let Axel scoop him up.
I loved that they helped each other grow. Axel has a lot of baggage but so does Luca. They pushed each other when needed and loved each other harder.
Emerson does such a great job creating a love story I couldn’t put down. Oh, and getting to see what some of her other guys were up to was a nice little cherry on top.
Make sure to check this one out!
I loved their story. I loved that Axel would not let Luca push him away and that he only wanted Luca to have the best life possible.
I loved that Luca didn’t give up on himself. He was adorably stubborn and wasn’t just going to let Axel scoop him up.
I loved that they helped each other grow. Axel has a lot of baggage but so does Luca. They pushed each other when needed and loved each other harder.
Emerson does such a great job creating a love story I couldn’t put down. Oh, and getting to see what some of her other guys were up to was a nice little cherry on top.
Make sure to check this one out!
May 7, 2026
Axel is focused on his NHL career, Luca is guarded and overwhelmed by school and work. Axel refuses to back off, slowly breaking through Luca’s walls. When Luca loses a job, Axel becomes impossible to avoid — and their resistance turns into a connection neither of them can deny.
This was an enjoyable story with a strong emotional core, but it was also filled with some very improbable events that affected how believable the plot felt. The connection between Axel and Luca was compelling, yet several moments raised major red flags — especially given Luca’s background. After a childhood in foster care where he had no control over his life, Luca treasures his independence, so watching Axel repeatedly make decisions for him (where he should work, what he should eat, how he should spend his time, even trying to change his living situation) while Luca clearly said “I don’t want you to do that” was uncomfortable. Axel also obtained Luca’s phone number and address without permission, which felt like an excessive way to highlight their wealth gap. I also found it odd that a brand‑new player would immediately become team captain, which added to the sense of unreality. Despite all that, the ending was lovely, and I really enjoyed the hopeful look at their future together. This was an MM story with mature content.
This was an enjoyable story with a strong emotional core, but it was also filled with some very improbable events that affected how believable the plot felt. The connection between Axel and Luca was compelling, yet several moments raised major red flags — especially given Luca’s background. After a childhood in foster care where he had no control over his life, Luca treasures his independence, so watching Axel repeatedly make decisions for him (where he should work, what he should eat, how he should spend his time, even trying to change his living situation) while Luca clearly said “I don’t want you to do that” was uncomfortable. Axel also obtained Luca’s phone number and address without permission, which felt like an excessive way to highlight their wealth gap. I also found it odd that a brand‑new player would immediately become team captain, which added to the sense of unreality. Despite all that, the ending was lovely, and I really enjoyed the hopeful look at their future together. This was an MM story with mature content.
Did Not Finish
April 21, 2026DNF @ 28% - I am not enjoying this book. Luca has a long history of foster care, during which he had no control over his life, and as a result he really values having control over his life now. So what does Axel do? He comes in and starts making decisions about where Luca should work, what he should eat, his car, how he spends his time, even tries to change his living situation, all while Luca's saying "I don't want you to do that.". He obtains Luca's phone number and address without Luca's permission and uses both to contact him. Wow. Major red flags. Unless anyone can tell me this book does an extreme about-face and... I don't know, Luca gets a restraining order and finds a better love interest??? Yeah, please tell me that and I might read on. I'll even read Axel's redemption book where he manages to build (rather than buy) a healthy relationship with someone different.
April 25, 2026
Probably Never by Emerson Beckett
Length: 331 pages
Source: The Literary Rx
Publication date: April 21, 2026
5 ⭐
3 🌶️
WHAT TO EXPECT
NHL player x social worker
Hurt/comfort
Slow burn
Opposites attract
Found family
Class difference
Standalone
No third-act breakup
Guaranteed HEA
AUTHOR'S BLURB
Retribution is why he came. Finding love is why he stayed.
Hockey player Axel Hughes left the UK for two reasons. First, to attain retribution for being separated at birth from his twin brother. Second, to play for the NHL’s newest expansion team, the New York Nighthawks. His world is turned upside down on day one by a chance meeting with a man he can’t stay away from. Axel always has a plan and will do whatever it takes to keep Luca Vaughn in his life, whether he likes it or not. He's up for the challenge.
Social worker Luca Vaughn’s life growing up in the foster care system taught him to protect himself at all costs. Working two jobs to survive while finishing grad school, the last thing he needs is a pushy hockey player who inserts himself into his life at every turn. When that chance meeting causes Luca to lose his second job, the one that helps pay the rent, Axel steps in. Over time, they slowly peel back the layers to find a soul-deep connection and a love neither can deny.
MY THOUGHTS
I wanted a book for Axel the minute he showed up in Under Center, his twin brother's book in the San Diego Storm series. (OK, I might have messaged Emerson and demanded his story; I don't remember and would deny it anyway.) At any rate, Emerson did NOT disappoint!
Axel is everything I wanted him to be: protective, possessive, secretly tender-hearted, smart, charismatic, thoughtful, and sexy af. He is IN it from the moment he sees Luca, who tries and tries to fight their chemistry to no avail. Luca is such a perfect match for our hockey player, too: independent, strong, caring, outspoken, intelligent... and also sexy af. He's not going to let Axel ride roughshod over that independence, and watching Axel deal with that is, frankly, adorable. He's not used to pushback, and Luca's not used to having anybody want to care for him, so they both have some adjusting to do.
Both men are also living with their own special kinds of childhood trauma, and those anguishes don't care about the huge economic gap between a professional athlete and a social worker struggling to finish graduate school. Yet, they're quick to support each other as they work through their pasts, and it's both heartbreaking and gratifying to read–heartbreaking that they had to grow up the way they did, and gratifying that out of all the people in a place like New York, they find each other.
BOTTOM LINE
Oh yeah. I'd easily read some bonus scenes about these guys, too. I love them.
CONTENT WARNINGS
(Some of these may be spoilers)
–A🩷
Thanks to The Literary Rx and Emerson Beckett for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Fable.
Length: 331 pages
Source: The Literary Rx
Publication date: April 21, 2026
5 ⭐
3 🌶️
WHAT TO EXPECT
NHL player x social worker
Hurt/comfort
Slow burn
Opposites attract
Found family
Class difference
Standalone
No third-act breakup
Guaranteed HEA
AUTHOR'S BLURB
Retribution is why he came. Finding love is why he stayed.
Hockey player Axel Hughes left the UK for two reasons. First, to attain retribution for being separated at birth from his twin brother. Second, to play for the NHL’s newest expansion team, the New York Nighthawks. His world is turned upside down on day one by a chance meeting with a man he can’t stay away from. Axel always has a plan and will do whatever it takes to keep Luca Vaughn in his life, whether he likes it or not. He's up for the challenge.
Social worker Luca Vaughn’s life growing up in the foster care system taught him to protect himself at all costs. Working two jobs to survive while finishing grad school, the last thing he needs is a pushy hockey player who inserts himself into his life at every turn. When that chance meeting causes Luca to lose his second job, the one that helps pay the rent, Axel steps in. Over time, they slowly peel back the layers to find a soul-deep connection and a love neither can deny.
MY THOUGHTS
I wanted a book for Axel the minute he showed up in Under Center, his twin brother's book in the San Diego Storm series. (OK, I might have messaged Emerson and demanded his story; I don't remember and would deny it anyway.) At any rate, Emerson did NOT disappoint!
Axel is everything I wanted him to be: protective, possessive, secretly tender-hearted, smart, charismatic, thoughtful, and sexy af. He is IN it from the moment he sees Luca, who tries and tries to fight their chemistry to no avail. Luca is such a perfect match for our hockey player, too: independent, strong, caring, outspoken, intelligent... and also sexy af. He's not going to let Axel ride roughshod over that independence, and watching Axel deal with that is, frankly, adorable. He's not used to pushback, and Luca's not used to having anybody want to care for him, so they both have some adjusting to do.
Both men are also living with their own special kinds of childhood trauma, and those anguishes don't care about the huge economic gap between a professional athlete and a social worker struggling to finish graduate school. Yet, they're quick to support each other as they work through their pasts, and it's both heartbreaking and gratifying to read–heartbreaking that they had to grow up the way they did, and gratifying that out of all the people in a place like New York, they find each other.
BOTTOM LINE
Oh yeah. I'd easily read some bonus scenes about these guys, too. I love them.
CONTENT WARNINGS
(Some of these may be spoilers)
–A🩷
Thanks to The Literary Rx and Emerson Beckett for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BlueSky, BookBub, and Fable.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A story that seems to equally fly by and be a slow burner. Luca is used to doing life the hard way, especially after being left in foster care by his mother aged five. He never accounted for Axel, new to America, New York and the NHL team, the Nighthawks. From the minute they meet there is a connection but Axel is not shy about going after what he wants.
Axel is, let's say, determined. However, he also doesn't necessarily know when to accept no which would irk me no end.
Their chemistry is intense and you can feel their emotions throughout the story. There are a lot of negatives, given what they both experienced as children/teenagers, but they bring much more happiness to each others lives than they have experienced. Luca comes with the couple of older people he has allowed into his life, that he strongly cares about, while Axel has a twin brother he has recently reunited with along with a whole hockey team which is like its own found family.
They have their own internal battles to fight, whilst Axel is trying to give Luca all that he possibly can (or what Luca allows). I like that it's not a constant battle of one thing after another, instead more focus is on their relationship, but the story isn't without its stumbling blocks that show the two men just how important they are to each other.
Another wonderful read from Emerson that tugs on the heart.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Axel is, let's say, determined. However, he also doesn't necessarily know when to accept no which would irk me no end.
Their chemistry is intense and you can feel their emotions throughout the story. There are a lot of negatives, given what they both experienced as children/teenagers, but they bring much more happiness to each others lives than they have experienced. Luca comes with the couple of older people he has allowed into his life, that he strongly cares about, while Axel has a twin brother he has recently reunited with along with a whole hockey team which is like its own found family.
They have their own internal battles to fight, whilst Axel is trying to give Luca all that he possibly can (or what Luca allows). I like that it's not a constant battle of one thing after another, instead more focus is on their relationship, but the story isn't without its stumbling blocks that show the two men just how important they are to each other.
Another wonderful read from Emerson that tugs on the heart.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Emerson, for my copy of Probably Never. A standalone but I definitely recommend reading Under Center first. I wanted Axel's story since meeting him in Under Center & I was not disappointed. Probably Never started with breaking my heart and then mended it as Axel and Luca learnt to love. I thought I could see a 3rd act break up being plotted, but Emerson gave readers a completely different experience, leaving me rubbing my heart.
Probably Never is full of heart, healing, hope, hockey, and concludes with 2 epilogues.
🏒 MM Romance
🗽 Slow Burn
🏒 Hurt/Comfort
🗽 Opposites Attract
🏒 Hockey Player
🗽 Social Worker
🏒 Economic Gap
🗽 Retribution
🏒 Prologue - Luca aged 5
🗽 Dual POV
🏒 Epilogues
🗽 Cameos
Don't forget to check out some of my favourite quotes. https://www.instagram.com/pjsandbooks
George held the door open and waited for me to get in. When I was seated, he didn’t close the door. “I’m to wait until you put on your seatbelt. He said to tell you to buckle up, butternut.”“It’s buttercup.” He snorted. “Yes, sir. I know.
Probably Never is full of heart, healing, hope, hockey, and concludes with 2 epilogues.
🏒 MM Romance
🗽 Slow Burn
🏒 Hurt/Comfort
🗽 Opposites Attract
🏒 Hockey Player
🗽 Social Worker
🏒 Economic Gap
🗽 Retribution
🏒 Prologue - Luca aged 5
🗽 Dual POV
🏒 Epilogues
🗽 Cameos
Don't forget to check out some of my favourite quotes. https://www.instagram.com/pjsandbooks
George held the door open and waited for me to get in. When I was seated, he didn’t close the door. “I’m to wait until you put on your seatbelt. He said to tell you to buckle up, butternut.”“It’s buttercup.” He snorted. “Yes, sir. I know.
April 17, 2026
5 stars
I've been waiting to read Axel's story since he appeared in Under Center and Emerson Beckett did not disappoint!
One thing I love the most about this author is that she might make you cry but she will always always deliver you a beautiful HEA.
In Under Center, Mason Kennelly, center for the San Diego Storm, finds out he has a biological mother and a twin brother, Axel, he knew nothing about. The brothers were lied to their whole life by their parents, who split them at birth and kept them away from each other.
But while Mason, with the help of his wonderful boyfriend Kingston, he’s able to deal with all the hurt that this revelation brought, Axel is resentful and angry and he makes his only mission in life to make the person responsible pay for all she’s done.
Axel, like his twin, is a professional athlete: he plays hockey in Europe but at the beginning of the story is just being traded to the New York Nighthawks. On the first night in the city, he goes to a bar with his teammates who want to welcome him in the team, and there he meets Luca.
After a very painful and rough childhood, Luca Vaughn is working hard to realise his dream of becoming a social worker: he’s about to get his master’s degree and in the meantime, he works in a bar where the Nighthawks often hang out.
Axel and Luca meet that very night and they feel an unexpected and uncanny pull towards each other.
Luca is determined to realise his dreams and help elderly people, but deep down, he’s still the little boy who was left behind by too many people and while Axel gives him all the attention, he still feels like he’s not worthy of any of it.
Axel has been badly hurt and he’s still so angry at both his parents for what they put him and his brother through, he hasn’t dealt with any of it, he just rejected their attempts to be forgiven. But he also feels guilty because his mother is sick and his resolution to keep everyone at arm’s length is starting to waver.
Because Luca is just the right man for him, the one who brings him to his knees with his tenderness and his innocence, the one who deserves all the love of this world and Axel knows, he just knows, that there is no one else but himself who could love him that way.
Luca is not ready to acknowledge his own worth yet, thankfully Axel is a stubborn man and after an event that could have kept them apart forever, finally they get their sweet HEA.
Looking forward to reading more from this author, I wonder where her next story will bring me.
Highly recommended.
While Probably Never is a standalone, it can be more appreciated after reading Under Center too
I've been waiting to read Axel's story since he appeared in Under Center and Emerson Beckett did not disappoint!
One thing I love the most about this author is that she might make you cry but she will always always deliver you a beautiful HEA.
In Under Center, Mason Kennelly, center for the San Diego Storm, finds out he has a biological mother and a twin brother, Axel, he knew nothing about. The brothers were lied to their whole life by their parents, who split them at birth and kept them away from each other.
But while Mason, with the help of his wonderful boyfriend Kingston, he’s able to deal with all the hurt that this revelation brought, Axel is resentful and angry and he makes his only mission in life to make the person responsible pay for all she’s done.
Axel, like his twin, is a professional athlete: he plays hockey in Europe but at the beginning of the story is just being traded to the New York Nighthawks. On the first night in the city, he goes to a bar with his teammates who want to welcome him in the team, and there he meets Luca.
After a very painful and rough childhood, Luca Vaughn is working hard to realise his dream of becoming a social worker: he’s about to get his master’s degree and in the meantime, he works in a bar where the Nighthawks often hang out.
Axel and Luca meet that very night and they feel an unexpected and uncanny pull towards each other.
Luca is determined to realise his dreams and help elderly people, but deep down, he’s still the little boy who was left behind by too many people and while Axel gives him all the attention, he still feels like he’s not worthy of any of it.
Axel has been badly hurt and he’s still so angry at both his parents for what they put him and his brother through, he hasn’t dealt with any of it, he just rejected their attempts to be forgiven. But he also feels guilty because his mother is sick and his resolution to keep everyone at arm’s length is starting to waver.
Because Luca is just the right man for him, the one who brings him to his knees with his tenderness and his innocence, the one who deserves all the love of this world and Axel knows, he just knows, that there is no one else but himself who could love him that way.
Luca is not ready to acknowledge his own worth yet, thankfully Axel is a stubborn man and after an event that could have kept them apart forever, finally they get their sweet HEA.
Looking forward to reading more from this author, I wonder where her next story will bring me.
Highly recommended.
While Probably Never is a standalone, it can be more appreciated after reading Under Center too
May 13, 2026
Axel and Luca were adorable! I loved how Axel continued to show up for Luca even Luca swore he didn’t need him to. Luca continuously tried to push Axel away due to his need to be independent and Axel kept showing him he’d be there for him no matter what. Sometimes in the cutest yet slightly unhinged ways.
These two were opposites in so many ways but had an underlying understanding of what it felt like to be lonely and afraid to love that bonded them. I loved their communication. They didn’t shy away from their pang they were very vocal about what they wanted and needed. There were times when one may need time to process but they would still communicate with each other and I loved it so much.
I really enjoyed getting Axel’s story and seeing Mason and Tommy pop in was sweet. This was such a cute fun read.
💙ARC REVIEW🖤
These two were opposites in so many ways but had an underlying understanding of what it felt like to be lonely and afraid to love that bonded them. I loved their communication. They didn’t shy away from their pang they were very vocal about what they wanted and needed. There were times when one may need time to process but they would still communicate with each other and I loved it so much.
I really enjoyed getting Axel’s story and seeing Mason and Tommy pop in was sweet. This was such a cute fun read.
💙ARC REVIEW🖤
April 21, 2026
rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
feelings: 😭🥰😱🥵😍🫠😡🥹😄
This story is like a fairy tale. A golden prince sweeps the beautiful princess off her feet. Except that in this fairy tale, the prince is a grumpy British hockey player and the princess is a gorgeous young man with an extremely difficult past.
Although neither of them believes in relationships, a strong bond develops between Luca and Axel. Luca tries for a long time to maintain his independence, but Axel is determined to give the man of his dreams everything he thinks he needs.
A beautiful story about the contrasting life circumstances of a millionaire and a former foster child who is determined to dedicate his life to serving the socially disadvantaged.
Highly recommended!
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
feelings: 😭🥰😱🥵😍🫠😡🥹😄
This story is like a fairy tale. A golden prince sweeps the beautiful princess off her feet. Except that in this fairy tale, the prince is a grumpy British hockey player and the princess is a gorgeous young man with an extremely difficult past.
Although neither of them believes in relationships, a strong bond develops between Luca and Axel. Luca tries for a long time to maintain his independence, but Axel is determined to give the man of his dreams everything he thinks he needs.
A beautiful story about the contrasting life circumstances of a millionaire and a former foster child who is determined to dedicate his life to serving the socially disadvantaged.
Highly recommended!
April 19, 2026
I adore this author and every single book they have released. This one though dang. Make me cry too many times to count. Axel and Luca are two broken souls who happen to find each other. The way they fit into and fix each other’s broken hearts while healing their own is beautiful. Emerson delivers found family like no other author I know and it is the one thing I love more than anything in the queer reading space. This one also delivers finding biological family after forced separation. And the reconnecting of family, but again Emerson always delivers that HEA, even if it takes ripping out the tears repeatedly.
May 8, 2026
The elusive five stars
I’ll start by saying I am very critical when it comes to book reviews and there’s not been many out of the 500+ per year that I read that receive five stars for me the highest is normally four. however, this book brought all the feels.. it was the sweetest most cinnamon roll book. I have read that didn’t give me the ick.. the characters made you wanna jump into the world and just give them a hug and their love story was all rainbows, puppies and green flags. Like wow imagine finding someone that sees you and refuses to let you go.. then proceeds to move mountains to prove themselves to you.. I’m new to this author but will be reading more
I’ll start by saying I am very critical when it comes to book reviews and there’s not been many out of the 500+ per year that I read that receive five stars for me the highest is normally four. however, this book brought all the feels.. it was the sweetest most cinnamon roll book. I have read that didn’t give me the ick.. the characters made you wanna jump into the world and just give them a hug and their love story was all rainbows, puppies and green flags. Like wow imagine finding someone that sees you and refuses to let you go.. then proceeds to move mountains to prove themselves to you.. I’m new to this author but will be reading more
May 11, 2026
Perfect in Every Way
I’m so in love with this book! Axel and Luca just melted my heart! After reading Under Center and meeting Axel for the first time, I really wanted to know his full story. I was beyond thrilled to find out Emerson wasn’t going to leave us hanging! lol! The care and gentle handling of the trauma both guys suffered was perfect on every level. Thank you for telling this story, Emerson! These are characters and a story I won’t forget. I need to know, though, who is next?
I’m so in love with this book! Axel and Luca just melted my heart! After reading Under Center and meeting Axel for the first time, I really wanted to know his full story. I was beyond thrilled to find out Emerson wasn’t going to leave us hanging! lol! The care and gentle handling of the trauma both guys suffered was perfect on every level. Thank you for telling this story, Emerson! These are characters and a story I won’t forget. I need to know, though, who is next?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow wow! You know that choking sob that happens because of relief for a character? Well… That happened more than once with this book. Axel is bigger than life but he also feels alone in this world. Luca truly is on his own besides his sweet Edith and clients for work. The worlds collide and the working class vs the wealthy make a lasting impression I won’t forget.
Emerson knows how to make me laugh, cry with relief, and cry with hurt but no one gives an HEA like she does. Beautiful journey.
Emerson knows how to make me laugh, cry with relief, and cry with hurt but no one gives an HEA like she does. Beautiful journey.
April 22, 2026
Probably Never is a standalone, but it's mc is the twin brother from Under Center, so I actually suggest reading that first. This is a hurt/comfort, opposites attract, slow burn read about Axel and Luca. I loved this book so much and the wonderful characters, Emerson brought the emotions through so well. I just could not put it down.
April 29, 2026
very satisfying
I picked this one up because of the hockey tie-in, but I really loved the depth of emotion in it. Where many MM books skim over the characters’ pays, this one takes the time to really investigate how those parts show up in their presents, and gives the characters time to process things, as well
I picked this one up because of the hockey tie-in, but I really loved the depth of emotion in it. Where many MM books skim over the characters’ pays, this one takes the time to really investigate how those parts show up in their presents, and gives the characters time to process things, as well
May 1, 2026
so good!
Axel is so persistent and bossy but I loved it. They were so cute and it was absolutely no where near realistic but it would be a great dream life! Hot hockey man who dotes on you and makes your dreams come true like a real Cinderfella, check yes for absolutely. It’s a great book.
Axel is so persistent and bossy but I loved it. They were so cute and it was absolutely no where near realistic but it would be a great dream life! Hot hockey man who dotes on you and makes your dreams come true like a real Cinderfella, check yes for absolutely. It’s a great book.
April 24, 2026
potential for a series
This story was hard to read at first. These characters were perfect for each other. They each helped the other to heal and I am so glad that I kept reading. Would love to Heath and Caden together in a book.
This story was hard to read at first. These characters were perfect for each other. They each helped the other to heal and I am so glad that I kept reading. Would love to Heath and Caden together in a book.
April 29, 2026
OoooF! I'm in trouble. Now I have to go back and read Emerson Beckett's books to add to my feel-good list.
This was a gem of a story, low angst, found family, knight in shining armor goodness.
A wonderful book.
This was a gem of a story, low angst, found family, knight in shining armor goodness.
A wonderful book.
May 3, 2026
Loved it
I was getting frustrated with Luca but the story was wonderful and emotional and healing. I am glad Axel was not a total A hole and the stepmother well should have publicly been humiliated.
I was getting frustrated with Luca but the story was wonderful and emotional and healing. I am glad Axel was not a total A hole and the stepmother well should have publicly been humiliated.
May 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fantastic read filled with emotions. I absolutely adore this duo. I was eager for Axel's story when we met him previous and I just wanted to hug him. Then Luca comes along and I want keep hugging him. Great read.
Fantastic read filled with emotions. I absolutely adore this duo. I was eager for Axel's story when we met him previous and I just wanted to hug him. Then Luca comes along and I want keep hugging him. Great read.
Review of advance copy
RTC This book was so good!! Axel was exactly what I was hoping he would be and Luca... oh sweet Luca 🥰
May 1, 2026
Enjoyed reading this hockey story as I was drawn into this story from the first page. This is a fast paced story that is very engaging and loving read.
April 27, 2026
4 ⭐
I have been dying for Axel’s book ever since Mason and Thomas’ story. He was so much more than meets the eye. I loved how devoted and maybe a little obsessive over Luca. Luca deserves the world, and Axel knew that.
Luca is probably my favorite. He knew his worth, but also didn’t take advantage of Axel like most people in his situation would have.
I have been dying for Axel’s book ever since Mason and Thomas’ story. He was so much more than meets the eye. I loved how devoted and maybe a little obsessive over Luca. Luca deserves the world, and Axel knew that.
Luca is probably my favorite. He knew his worth, but also didn’t take advantage of Axel like most people in his situation would have.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews