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Gym Rat Pack #2
Stretch the Limits
Tobias spent his pro hockey career hiding who he was. Once he retired, he planned on staying hidden. But a new employee at his gym may change everything…
Three years ago, goaltender Tobias Moyer was at the top of his game, but as media and fan obligations intensified, so did his social anxiety and fears of his sexuality coming to the surface. When the frequency of his panic attacks increased, he decided to retire. Now that he’s made a new life for himself as the owner of Gym Rat Fitness, he’s shocked when the Philly Inferno want him back for the alumni game. His new yoga instructor, Chase, is going to help him get back in game shape, but Tobias doesn’t expect Chase to awaken desires in him he thought were long dead.
Chase Townsend has been working odd jobs in fitness for years and loves helping people achieve their goals. He never expects his newest job will require him to break his hot boss out of his stoic rut. But he’s flexible. And Chase can multi-task, fixing his fractured relationship with his brother while setting his sights on some late-night stretching with Tobias. When he discovers the grump is hiding a marshmallow center and an adorable niece, he makes a vow to fix more than his own family.
Stretch the Limits is a workplace romance with a retired hockey goalie turned babysitter and a snarky twink who’s determined to win him over. Readers will enjoy a grumpy/sunshine pairing, found family, a retired athlete trying to make a comeback, and spicy open-door scenes with a guaranteed HEA. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.
Three years ago, goaltender Tobias Moyer was at the top of his game, but as media and fan obligations intensified, so did his social anxiety and fears of his sexuality coming to the surface. When the frequency of his panic attacks increased, he decided to retire. Now that he’s made a new life for himself as the owner of Gym Rat Fitness, he’s shocked when the Philly Inferno want him back for the alumni game. His new yoga instructor, Chase, is going to help him get back in game shape, but Tobias doesn’t expect Chase to awaken desires in him he thought were long dead.
Chase Townsend has been working odd jobs in fitness for years and loves helping people achieve their goals. He never expects his newest job will require him to break his hot boss out of his stoic rut. But he’s flexible. And Chase can multi-task, fixing his fractured relationship with his brother while setting his sights on some late-night stretching with Tobias. When he discovers the grump is hiding a marshmallow center and an adorable niece, he makes a vow to fix more than his own family.
Stretch the Limits is a workplace romance with a retired hockey goalie turned babysitter and a snarky twink who’s determined to win him over. Readers will enjoy a grumpy/sunshine pairing, found family, a retired athlete trying to make a comeback, and spicy open-door scenes with a guaranteed HEA. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
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March 3, 2026Beta read, RTC after ARC reading.
May 11, 2026
✨ ARC review ✨
🤸🏻 Stretch The Limits by Lauren Kohout 🏒
“I’d follow him anywhere.”
what a cute read! i needed this after all of the more dramatic reads I’ve had lately lol. this book isn’t completely angst-free, in fact a big part revolves around one of the MC’s anxiety and the other MC’s family issues, but there are plenty of cheesy scenes to make up for it hehe.
so, the book revolves around Tobias, an anxiety-ridden retired hockey goalie who now owns his own gym (Gym Rat Fitness), and Chase, a fanboy yoga instructor who begins teaching classes at said gym. im not sure ‘love at first sight’ really applies between the two, but there are definite sparks early on, and the way Tobias gets all gooey around Chase despite his usual ‘grumpy’ exterior is so cute 🥰
in the story, Tobias is asked to play in his old teams alumni game, and he’s really hesitant about it until Chase offers to help him train (bonus points: he plays as a soccer goalie, so he has a bit of experience). eventually Tobias agrees, but what happens when the line between boss/employee and something more becomes blurred? 🤭
one of my favorite things about this book was seeing Tobias work through his anxiety. there are parts where he’s having internal conversations with himself and he says things like, “Sorry, I don’t mean to be super awkward. It comes naturally.” and it makes me feel SO SEEN. it was nice to see how patient Chase was with him, even when dealing with something that affected him greatly - dealing with the anxiety of coming out.
id like to share another favorite quote from this book: “The stamina of children is horrifying.”
BAHAHAHAHA. if you have children, you understand how scary it can be. 💀
some tidbits:
🥅 retired goalie x yoga instructor
🧘🏻♂️ found family
🏒 knitting 🧶
🤸🏻 boss x employee
🥅 found family
🧘🏻♂️ the cutest lil niece ever
🏒 mental health rep
🤸🏻 spice while upside down 🙃🔥
🥅 third person pov
🤸🏻 Stretch The Limits by Lauren Kohout 🏒
“I’d follow him anywhere.”
what a cute read! i needed this after all of the more dramatic reads I’ve had lately lol. this book isn’t completely angst-free, in fact a big part revolves around one of the MC’s anxiety and the other MC’s family issues, but there are plenty of cheesy scenes to make up for it hehe.
so, the book revolves around Tobias, an anxiety-ridden retired hockey goalie who now owns his own gym (Gym Rat Fitness), and Chase, a fanboy yoga instructor who begins teaching classes at said gym. im not sure ‘love at first sight’ really applies between the two, but there are definite sparks early on, and the way Tobias gets all gooey around Chase despite his usual ‘grumpy’ exterior is so cute 🥰
in the story, Tobias is asked to play in his old teams alumni game, and he’s really hesitant about it until Chase offers to help him train (bonus points: he plays as a soccer goalie, so he has a bit of experience). eventually Tobias agrees, but what happens when the line between boss/employee and something more becomes blurred? 🤭
one of my favorite things about this book was seeing Tobias work through his anxiety. there are parts where he’s having internal conversations with himself and he says things like, “Sorry, I don’t mean to be super awkward. It comes naturally.” and it makes me feel SO SEEN. it was nice to see how patient Chase was with him, even when dealing with something that affected him greatly - dealing with the anxiety of coming out.
id like to share another favorite quote from this book: “The stamina of children is horrifying.”
BAHAHAHAHA. if you have children, you understand how scary it can be. 💀
some tidbits:
🥅 retired goalie x yoga instructor
🧘🏻♂️ found family
🏒 knitting 🧶
🤸🏻 boss x employee
🥅 found family
🧘🏻♂️ the cutest lil niece ever
🏒 mental health rep
🤸🏻 spice while upside down 🙃🔥
🥅 third person pov
Review of advance copy
Thank you for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy in exchange for my review. Unfortunately this book is not for me.
Why?
☀️ Too many side characters. So many names are thrown at us and I started trying to remember everyone, before I realised half of them don't come up again and are literally just names chucked in. I want to know my two MCs well.
☀️ Too many same scenes. Yes, they work in a gym and run yoga classes, but don't they have other interests? The same yoga scenes are shown again and again, but there is no point to them, nothing changes between our MCs and nothing is learnt about them. Similar scenes for space filling only and again, a huge onslaught of names for nothing.
☀️ Yoga descriptors. I don't do yoga. There's a way to make a description simple - he bent in half, an upside down V - but the sheer amount of yoga poses described combined with the "one hand here" "a hand here" "his foot here".... Whilst I could probably use the book as an instructional guide to yoga positions, as someone not wanting to do yoga, I just wanted to see the MCs fall in love.
☀️ Lack of main character chemistry and romance. They like the look of each other from the start, but one keeps running, the other chasing, then there's a kiss, which is rejected by the chaser? Then there's a really awkward blow scene literally out of nowhere... I could go on, but ultimately, the chemistry is awkward, the interactions are awkward, there's no kindness or love or care going into the start of their relationship, and the scenes that follow are more trope based than chemistry based.
I hate, hate leaving bad reviews, especially for a pre release book and I very rarely do, but no, this needs refining and at least half the book could be cut. I can't recommend it and it would be unethical of me to not provide an honest rating. Sorry.
Why?
☀️ Too many side characters. So many names are thrown at us and I started trying to remember everyone, before I realised half of them don't come up again and are literally just names chucked in. I want to know my two MCs well.
☀️ Too many same scenes. Yes, they work in a gym and run yoga classes, but don't they have other interests? The same yoga scenes are shown again and again, but there is no point to them, nothing changes between our MCs and nothing is learnt about them. Similar scenes for space filling only and again, a huge onslaught of names for nothing.
☀️ Yoga descriptors. I don't do yoga. There's a way to make a description simple - he bent in half, an upside down V - but the sheer amount of yoga poses described combined with the "one hand here" "a hand here" "his foot here".... Whilst I could probably use the book as an instructional guide to yoga positions, as someone not wanting to do yoga, I just wanted to see the MCs fall in love.
☀️ Lack of main character chemistry and romance. They like the look of each other from the start, but one keeps running, the other chasing, then there's a kiss, which is rejected by the chaser? Then there's a really awkward blow scene literally out of nowhere... I could go on, but ultimately, the chemistry is awkward, the interactions are awkward, there's no kindness or love or care going into the start of their relationship, and the scenes that follow are more trope based than chemistry based.
I hate, hate leaving bad reviews, especially for a pre release book and I very rarely do, but no, this needs refining and at least half the book could be cut. I can't recommend it and it would be unethical of me to not provide an honest rating. Sorry.
May 17, 2026
📖 ARC Review 📖
"Stretch the Limits" ❤️ is the second book in the "Gym Rat Pack" series by Lauren Kohout. Tobias spent years as a professional hockey star 🏒, but media pressure, social anxiety, and the constant fear of his sexuality being exposed pushed him into an early retirement. Now he runs his own gym and tries to maintain a quiet, controlled life until Chase, the new yoga instructor, enters the picture 🧘🏼. When his former team asks him to return for an alumni game, Tobias agrees to train with Chase, even if it means getting dangerously close to someone who could tear down all his walls ❤️🩹.
First of all, I want to thank Lauren for trusting me to review this book. I truly couldn’t be more grateful! 💜
The author’s writing style 🪶 feels warm and easy to read, and although the story deals with delicate topics, it maintains a comforting tone throughout.
One of the things I loved most was the representation of mental health. Tobias felt like a very human and relatable protagonist. His social anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the way he constantly self-sabotages are portrayed in a very realistic way ❤️🩹.
Their relationship is incredibly sweet 🥹. They couldn’t be more different, and that’s exactly why they work so well together. I also really appreciated how the novel focuses not only on the romance, but also on the importance of support, communication, and feeling safe with another person 🫂.
Overall, it was a lovely read with a very well-done portrayal of anxiety and absolutely adorable protagonists 💜. I do think I was missing just a little more emotional conflict, but it definitely left me wanting to read more stories set in this universe.
.
.
.
📖 FINAL RATING 📖
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
💧💧
🌶️🌶️
"Stretch the Limits" ❤️ is the second book in the "Gym Rat Pack" series by Lauren Kohout. Tobias spent years as a professional hockey star 🏒, but media pressure, social anxiety, and the constant fear of his sexuality being exposed pushed him into an early retirement. Now he runs his own gym and tries to maintain a quiet, controlled life until Chase, the new yoga instructor, enters the picture 🧘🏼. When his former team asks him to return for an alumni game, Tobias agrees to train with Chase, even if it means getting dangerously close to someone who could tear down all his walls ❤️🩹.
First of all, I want to thank Lauren for trusting me to review this book. I truly couldn’t be more grateful! 💜
The author’s writing style 🪶 feels warm and easy to read, and although the story deals with delicate topics, it maintains a comforting tone throughout.
One of the things I loved most was the representation of mental health. Tobias felt like a very human and relatable protagonist. His social anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the way he constantly self-sabotages are portrayed in a very realistic way ❤️🩹.
Their relationship is incredibly sweet 🥹. They couldn’t be more different, and that’s exactly why they work so well together. I also really appreciated how the novel focuses not only on the romance, but also on the importance of support, communication, and feeling safe with another person 🫂.
Overall, it was a lovely read with a very well-done portrayal of anxiety and absolutely adorable protagonists 💜. I do think I was missing just a little more emotional conflict, but it definitely left me wanting to read more stories set in this universe.
.
.
.
📖 FINAL RATING 📖
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
💧💧
🌶️🌶️
May 18, 2026
Lauren Kahout wrote such a cute, comforting read with Stretch the Limits. After some heavier and more emotional books, this was exactly the kind of story I needed. It isn’t completely angst-free, since it deals with anxiety, homophobia, and family illness, but there are so many sweet, cheesy moments that it balances everything out perfectly.
Tobias is a retired hockey goalie whose career was heavily impacted by anxiety, and now he quietly runs Gym Rat Fitness while trying to avoid the spotlight that once overwhelmed him. Then Chase enters the picture as the gym’s new yoga instructor, sunshine personified and a total fanboy underneath all the flirting and confidence.
I absolutely loved their dynamic. Tobias is grumpy, anxious, and constantly in his own head, while Chase slowly works his way past all those walls with patience, banter, and genuine care. Watching Tobias turn completely soft around Chase was honestly adorable.
The hockey aspect sits more in the background here, which actually worked really well because the focus stayed firmly on the characters and their emotional growth. The anxiety representation especially felt very genuine and thoughtfully handled, and Tobias’s inner struggles were incredibly easy to connect with.
Their chemistry was sweet, spicy, and believable, and I loved the gradual shift from boss/employee into something much deeper while Chase helped Tobias prepare for his old team’s alumni game.
A really warm, low-angst MM hockey romance with grumpy/sunshine vibes, found family, emotional depth, and plenty of heart.
Tobias is a retired hockey goalie whose career was heavily impacted by anxiety, and now he quietly runs Gym Rat Fitness while trying to avoid the spotlight that once overwhelmed him. Then Chase enters the picture as the gym’s new yoga instructor, sunshine personified and a total fanboy underneath all the flirting and confidence.
I absolutely loved their dynamic. Tobias is grumpy, anxious, and constantly in his own head, while Chase slowly works his way past all those walls with patience, banter, and genuine care. Watching Tobias turn completely soft around Chase was honestly adorable.
The hockey aspect sits more in the background here, which actually worked really well because the focus stayed firmly on the characters and their emotional growth. The anxiety representation especially felt very genuine and thoughtfully handled, and Tobias’s inner struggles were incredibly easy to connect with.
Their chemistry was sweet, spicy, and believable, and I loved the gradual shift from boss/employee into something much deeper while Chase helped Tobias prepare for his old team’s alumni game.
A really warm, low-angst MM hockey romance with grumpy/sunshine vibes, found family, emotional depth, and plenty of heart.
May 15, 2026
Review for (Gym Rat Pack-2) Stretch the Limits by Lauren Kohout
A newer author for me, so when that happens, I like to give tropes. This book worked for me, but it might not for others.
Grumpy/Sunshine
Retired athlete trying to make a comeback
Found family
spicy
Homophobia
Cancer of a parent
This story is about Tobias, who, several years ago, was on top of the world with his sports career. With all the people watching him, he starts having anxiety along with fear that changes his life. Through the years, he has felt he needed to keep who he loved secret from prying eyes. He lived his life hiding who he is from people. Now, years later, he has rebuilt his life, and he owns the Gym Rat Fitness gym. His life gets pulled apart when he is contacted by the Philly Inferno because they want him back for the alumni game. An employee who runs the yoga classes says he will help Tobias get back in shape and back in the game. Chase, the yoga instructor, will help his boss to get back into shape to play this game. Tobias's life is shaken up as the two men spend more time together getting him into shape. Will Tobias stay in the closet to stay safe? Or will he live his life and show who he really is? Or will he come out for himself and Chase? I did enjoy this book. I hate when I see homophobia in my life towards others, so reading it, I wanted to smack some people lol. This is a good read to escape into, with how life is these days.
Nicole Harvey
A newer author for me, so when that happens, I like to give tropes. This book worked for me, but it might not for others.
Grumpy/Sunshine
Retired athlete trying to make a comeback
Found family
spicy
Homophobia
Cancer of a parent
This story is about Tobias, who, several years ago, was on top of the world with his sports career. With all the people watching him, he starts having anxiety along with fear that changes his life. Through the years, he has felt he needed to keep who he loved secret from prying eyes. He lived his life hiding who he is from people. Now, years later, he has rebuilt his life, and he owns the Gym Rat Fitness gym. His life gets pulled apart when he is contacted by the Philly Inferno because they want him back for the alumni game. An employee who runs the yoga classes says he will help Tobias get back in shape and back in the game. Chase, the yoga instructor, will help his boss to get back into shape to play this game. Tobias's life is shaken up as the two men spend more time together getting him into shape. Will Tobias stay in the closet to stay safe? Or will he live his life and show who he really is? Or will he come out for himself and Chase? I did enjoy this book. I hate when I see homophobia in my life towards others, so reading it, I wanted to smack some people lol. This is a good read to escape into, with how life is these days.
Nicole Harvey
May 14, 2026
🥅Tobias & Chase🧘
Tobias was a goaltender for the NHL who retired because of his severe social anxiety. He’s made a new life for himself as the owner of Gym Rat Fitness, in which he hired Chase.
Chase is a yoga instructor. He grew up with his parents always fighting and him and his older brother would stick together until the brother found out later that Chase was gay. Chase is also a big fan of Tobias and has a crush on him. He also doesn’t seem to have a filter around him.
It took time for Tobias to let Chase in and him to be more himself and open with him but it was so touching to see it happen throughout the story. It was also sweet that Chase would always check in on Tobias and make sure he was ok and Chase was there for him when he wasn't and comforted him. Another thing that I loved were these funny moments whenever Tobias would get jealous and Chase’s reaction to it.
Favorite quote:
Chase: “Tobias had the weight of the world on his shoulders and there was no one there to help him carry it? Well, fuck that. Now, there was. Me.”
Favorite Moment:
“He vaguely heard shouts and cheers, all of it white noise as he dipped Chase in his arms”.
Tobias was a goaltender for the NHL who retired because of his severe social anxiety. He’s made a new life for himself as the owner of Gym Rat Fitness, in which he hired Chase.
Chase is a yoga instructor. He grew up with his parents always fighting and him and his older brother would stick together until the brother found out later that Chase was gay. Chase is also a big fan of Tobias and has a crush on him. He also doesn’t seem to have a filter around him.
It took time for Tobias to let Chase in and him to be more himself and open with him but it was so touching to see it happen throughout the story. It was also sweet that Chase would always check in on Tobias and make sure he was ok and Chase was there for him when he wasn't and comforted him. Another thing that I loved were these funny moments whenever Tobias would get jealous and Chase’s reaction to it.
Favorite quote:
Chase: “Tobias had the weight of the world on his shoulders and there was no one there to help him carry it? Well, fuck that. Now, there was. Me.”
Favorite Moment:
“He vaguely heard shouts and cheers, all of it white noise as he dipped Chase in his arms”.
May 17, 2026
I love me some anxiety rep, and we definitely got that in Tobias! As someone with anxiety, I think the way it was portrayed throughout the story was very real. I loved how it wasn't just something we are told the character has and then it's never really shown or brought up again, but rather we can see it in the way he thinks and acts throughout the whole story. It was also really nice to see our other MC, Chase, handle Tobias's anxiety and panic attacks in a healthy manner. The dynamic between our two MCs wasn't what I expected, but BOY am I happy about it! They were so adorable together and really just gave each other what they needed: Chase, someone to take care of, and Tobias, someone to take care of him. It was also heartwarming to see Chase’s brother try to redeem his past bigotry. You don't see a lot of people try as hard as he did. This was really just a super fun but also emotional and healing read. If any of this sounds good to you, then I seriously encourage you to pick this beautiful story up!
I wanna give a big thank you to the author for reaching out to me and giving me the opportunity to ARC read this wonderful story!
I wanna give a big thank you to the author for reaching out to me and giving me the opportunity to ARC read this wonderful story!
May 17, 2026
Sweet and cute MM hockey romance focused more on character development with the hockey playing more of a background role in the story, which I found to be refreshing. The story leans heavy on the mental heath themes, specifically social anxiety. The author really did a phenomenal job regarding the topic and really conveyed it perfectly.
The MCs Tobias and Chase are easy to relate to, and I found myself liking and rooting for them from the start. Their opposite personalities are what really made them work so well together. Tobias's anxious riddled inner monologues were especially relatable and well written. I really enjoyed Chase's sunshine personality and flirty banter as he slowly cracked Tobias's outer grumpy layer. I felt the emotional build-up believable and sweet.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, which was low on angst and easy to read.
Tropes:
Hockey Goalie
Boss + Employee
Grumpy + Sunshine
Mental health rep
Anxiety rep
Forced proximity
Found Family
Dual 3rd person POV
Check TW
Thank you, GRR and Lauren Kohout, for the opportunity to read this book.
The MCs Tobias and Chase are easy to relate to, and I found myself liking and rooting for them from the start. Their opposite personalities are what really made them work so well together. Tobias's anxious riddled inner monologues were especially relatable and well written. I really enjoyed Chase's sunshine personality and flirty banter as he slowly cracked Tobias's outer grumpy layer. I felt the emotional build-up believable and sweet.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, which was low on angst and easy to read.
Tropes:
Hockey Goalie
Boss + Employee
Grumpy + Sunshine
Mental health rep
Anxiety rep
Forced proximity
Found Family
Dual 3rd person POV
Check TW
Thank you, GRR and Lauren Kohout, for the opportunity to read this book.
May 19, 2026
A special thank you to the author for this ARC. Stretch the Limits is a 5-star review, it was just that GOOD! As someone who suffers from social anxiety, I very much appreciated the accuracy in Tobias's portrayal. And he knits to center himself... SOOO cute 🥰
If you like reading books that have mental health representation, cute guys knitting, and hot sex, this is for you. Even the found-family vibes from all the guys within the gym rat pack group. I enjoyed all the additional characters wrapped into the story, and I thought it was so so sweet that Chase just got Tobias and was really there for him with his social anxiety and helped navigate the alumni game practice. We all need a Chase in our lives who just gets us 🥹🥹🥹 and someone that we can feel safe with.
Some spoilers⤵️
And that 🥵 scene in Chapter 17 when Chase was upside down on the wall doing his inversion pose... PHEW, THAT WAS HOTTT 🥵🥵🥵
⤴️
To make a long story short, read Stretch the Limits if you like reading books that have mental health representation, cute guys knitting, and hot sex this is for you! You're going to love it, and I will definitely be reading the third book in this series when it comes out!
If you like reading books that have mental health representation, cute guys knitting, and hot sex, this is for you. Even the found-family vibes from all the guys within the gym rat pack group. I enjoyed all the additional characters wrapped into the story, and I thought it was so so sweet that Chase just got Tobias and was really there for him with his social anxiety and helped navigate the alumni game practice. We all need a Chase in our lives who just gets us 🥹🥹🥹 and someone that we can feel safe with.
Some spoilers⤵️
And that 🥵 scene in Chapter 17 when Chase was upside down on the wall doing his inversion pose... PHEW, THAT WAS HOTTT 🥵🥵🥵
⤴️
To make a long story short, read Stretch the Limits if you like reading books that have mental health representation, cute guys knitting, and hot sex this is for you! You're going to love it, and I will definitely be reading the third book in this series when it comes out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Stretch the Limits by Lauren Kohout and while I love a good hockey romance, this book was so much more than that. The second book in the Gym Rat Pack series follows retired NHL goalie Tobias Moyer, owner of the Gym Rat Fitness, and his newest employee/yoga instructor Chase Townsend, who he quickly develops feelings for.
Tobias left the NHL due to severe social anxiety and fears that he would be outed, and he now faces the prospect of returning for an alumni game with his old team the Philly Inferno. With his severe anxiety, Tobias is very much the grumpy to Chase's sunshine.
While I enjoyed seeing Tobias and Chase's relationship grow as they each faced their own personal hurdles, my favorite part of this book was the mental health rep. Particularly, how Tobias' intrusive thoughts were shown. Kohout's use of single speech marks to differentiate intrusive thoughts from his actual thoughts was clever and as someone with anxiety, I found that part very relatable.
Tobias left the NHL due to severe social anxiety and fears that he would be outed, and he now faces the prospect of returning for an alumni game with his old team the Philly Inferno. With his severe anxiety, Tobias is very much the grumpy to Chase's sunshine.
While I enjoyed seeing Tobias and Chase's relationship grow as they each faced their own personal hurdles, my favorite part of this book was the mental health rep. Particularly, how Tobias' intrusive thoughts were shown. Kohout's use of single speech marks to differentiate intrusive thoughts from his actual thoughts was clever and as someone with anxiety, I found that part very relatable.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 stars. This was a cute, relatively low-angst romance ARC from the author and I greatly appreciate her generosity in allowing me to read and review. I definitely appreciated the commentary on Tobias's mental health as well as Chase's family background and the struggles there. It was also very nice to see the supportive atmosphere of the gym Tobias owns and how everyone is so fun and everyone is allies. I did feel that the tone of the book was a bit too sweet for my personal taste. I wasn't necessarily cringing or anything, but I did roll my eyes a few times. I also feel that there could have been a bit more angst for me. Nobody needed to have been in danger or anything, but I feel things were resolved relatively quickly. Overall, this was a nice read and again thank you so much to the author for trusting me with your story. I would actually be interested in reading the others, especially after the very different tone from the short preview to book 3!
May 16, 2026
Tobias had a career that he loved but left because of his social anxiety. The more there were demands on him from media and fans the worse it got so he decided to retire. He feared that too much scrutiny would uncover his sexuality. He settles into his next act in life, owning a gym, and he is doing alright until invited back for an alumni hockey game that he needs to get into shape for. That brings Chase, who teaches yoga, into his life. But Chase brings more than just stretching into his life. Chase brings attraction and their relationship evolves into more than just a fitness mission. Both have challenges they have to deal with. The author does a good job of bringing the reader in on Tobias' journey and struggles and a good job introducing into Tobias' life someone like Chase to help him progress in ways he was not sure he was ready to.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wanted to start off by saying that I just don't connect as well with 3rd person POVs as much as I do with 1st person books. However, I have never connected so completely to a character in my life as much as the shy, ex-hockey goalie, Tobias. Kohout nailed the anxiety representation, the full on panic attacks about talking on the phone and catastrophising every conversation! He was perfect! Then Chase was everything someone like Tobias needed. The confidence boosts, affirmations and just being patient all round! I am also looking forward to seeing more from the side characters because the found family theme was strong in this book! It was a very easy going, low angst read! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read for book early!
May 13, 2026
A sweet feel good romance. Reminded me of a Hallmark movie, one with low angst and feel good over the top moments. I fell hard for Tobias and Chase. Tobias the recently restored hockey player lived and played while hiding his sexuality and he plans to continue doing so even during retirement running his gym. He has lived with anxiety about his identity his entire life. Suddenly a team wants him back and Chase his yoga instructor agrees to help him get in shape. Suddenly work becomes more as emotions get sparked. I love the patience Chase shows Tobias. Anyone who has ever struggled with their identity will relate to Tobias. A great read.
May 15, 2026
Thank you for the book; here is my honest opinion:
2.5⭐️The author provides a system for distinguishing intrusive thoughts from non intrusive ones in the introduction. This turned out to be a bit of a red flag, as all tobias’s internal thoughts grew tiresome pretty quickly, for me. There is also quite a lot of time spent on stuff I just didn’t care about like yoga and too much kid time with Madison. To me, it felt more like a single dad plot with all the attention given to Tobias and his niece Madison. I generally try to avoid those, but if you like a sugary sweet single dad romance with a side of grumpy sunshine this might be a good option.
2.5⭐️The author provides a system for distinguishing intrusive thoughts from non intrusive ones in the introduction. This turned out to be a bit of a red flag, as all tobias’s internal thoughts grew tiresome pretty quickly, for me. There is also quite a lot of time spent on stuff I just didn’t care about like yoga and too much kid time with Madison. To me, it felt more like a single dad plot with all the attention given to Tobias and his niece Madison. I generally try to avoid those, but if you like a sugary sweet single dad romance with a side of grumpy sunshine this might be a good option.
May 17, 2026
I absolutely loved a good Hockey romance. Chase is just absolutely hot-dorable. I love a good flexible bendy Yogi and I love how Chase says whatever he is thinking. But my absolute favorite is our hot-ward character in Tobias. Lauren did a great job writing a socially awkward character with anxiety. It’s great getting more inclusive writers, characters and representation. Whether it is LGBTQIA+ rep or neurodivergent rep. This book brings them all together and Chase and Tobias are so cute together. This has everything heat, romantic moments, supportive characters and moments and great found family vibes!!
May 13, 2026
I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous about reading this after book one. I rated that one 3.5 stars so I still thought it was good but I didn’t love it and I’m not usually a fan of 3rd person but the author managed to pull it off in book two. I felt a much stronger connection to Tobias as he struggled with his anxiety and Chase was incredibly patient and kind making him the perfect match. I really enjoyed Stretch the Limits and the sneak peek at the end of the book has me very interested in book three.
May 19, 2026
Cute story about a retired hockey player and a yoga instructor. Both characters are cute, have nice chemistry and complete each other. I enjoyed reading about the development of their relationship. It was easy to read, mostly low angst even if some harder topics were addressed, including mental health, but without darkening the overall spirit of the book. Some parts were maybe a bit too long (around yoga for example).
This is book two of the series, can be read as a standalone.
I got an ARC and this is my honest review.
This is book two of the series, can be read as a standalone.
I got an ARC and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my second book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I felt like I knew all the characters better than I did in book 1. There was an obvious respect and understanding with the mental health issues in the story. As someone with a close family member dealing with similar things, I liked the way it was handled. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
May 12, 2026
ARC Review. I want to say how much I appreciate being able to read this book. With that being said this book was good and I really enjoyed it. It was a bit difficult to get into but once I did it turned out really good. The book is a third person pov book so sometime my brain got a little confused trying to distinguish characters and what they said. I do recommend this book if you like found family, hockey, yoga, a little bit of forced proximity, and boss/employee.
May 13, 2026
Fun+Spicy+Quirky Banter= amazing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Arc reader review….
Mental Health rep ✅
Grumpy x Sunshine ✅
Quirky side characters ✅
I absolutely loved the banter of all of the side characters! I love how the two MC’s had the inner dialogue to make the reader feel involved in their everyday thought. I loved how the author set up the intrusive thoughts in a way that we could understand and relate to. I love that this book had a found family! Great work!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Arc reader review….
Mental Health rep ✅
Grumpy x Sunshine ✅
Quirky side characters ✅
I absolutely loved the banter of all of the side characters! I love how the two MC’s had the inner dialogue to make the reader feel involved in their everyday thought. I loved how the author set up the intrusive thoughts in a way that we could understand and relate to. I love that this book had a found family! Great work!
May 14, 2026
This was such a good book. I love a book with mental health rep - and Tobias' social anxiety and panic attacks were so well written and put together. I really enjoyed how the author showcased how debilitating anxiety can be - but how it can be managed with things other than medication. Chase was an awesome MMC too - he was funny and strong and I loved how he kept showing up for Toby until he was ready. I also thought the grand gesture at the end was perfection. If you like MM romance - this was a great one - with great mental health rep, sports themed, and found family. Add to your TBR!
May 16, 2026
A Must Read
I fell in love with this book. The characters drag you in and make you want to know everything. I cannot wait for the next one.
Tobias is amazing. I love what he’s done for his family, the way he puts everyone else first even before his happiness is astounding. Learning to love himself enough to let Chase in— ❤️.
I did receive an ARC copy and would happily read it again!!
I fell in love with this book. The characters drag you in and make you want to know everything. I cannot wait for the next one.
Tobias is amazing. I love what he’s done for his family, the way he puts everyone else first even before his happiness is astounding. Learning to love himself enough to let Chase in— ❤️.
I did receive an ARC copy and would happily read it again!!
May 17, 2026
Chase + Tobias
To me Tobias was relatable. I understood the anxiety and nerves you get when making a phone call or thinking you will mess up somehow. It soothed something in me the way Chase treated Tobias helping him but also being so supportive even when they were just friends. Honestly this was a feel good story that was filled with positivity. All the people surrounding Tobias where awesome
To me Tobias was relatable. I understood the anxiety and nerves you get when making a phone call or thinking you will mess up somehow. It soothed something in me the way Chase treated Tobias helping him but also being so supportive even when they were just friends. Honestly this was a feel good story that was filled with positivity. All the people surrounding Tobias where awesome
May 18, 2026
Tobias!
I’ve been waiting for the second book to come out and it did not disappoint.
I love the dynamic between the two of them. It may not seem like it, but I feel like Tobias is really a cinnamon roll. And he knits!!! He can be a hard ass but I love him. I knew he would be a teddy bear. His niece was definitely the unintentional matchmaker.
Another great book! Can’t wait for the next one!
I’ve been waiting for the second book to come out and it did not disappoint.
I love the dynamic between the two of them. It may not seem like it, but I feel like Tobias is really a cinnamon roll. And he knits!!! He can be a hard ass but I love him. I knew he would be a teddy bear. His niece was definitely the unintentional matchmaker.
Another great book! Can’t wait for the next one!
May 12, 2026
Stretch the Limits is the second book in the Gym Rat Pack series and can be read as a standalone. This is a found family, co-workers to lovers, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, slow burn read about Chase and Tobias. I really enjoyed this storyline and the wonderful characters, I can't wait to see what happens in the next in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a sweet romance between these two characters! Definitely starts out a little bit slower before they actually act on their feelings and attraction. But the attraction is DEFINITELY there from the beginning. Tobias and chase will have you swooning!!!
May 14, 2026
Stretch the Limits
Chase + Tobias
Release Date : May 12 2026
To me Tobias was relatable. I understood the anxiety and nerves you get when making a phone call or thinking you will mess up somehow. It soothed something in me the way Chase treated Tobias helping him but also being so supportive even when they were just friends. Honestly this was a feel good story that was filled with positivity. All the people surrounding Tobias where awesome.
Chase + Tobias
Release Date : May 12 2026
To me Tobias was relatable. I understood the anxiety and nerves you get when making a phone call or thinking you will mess up somehow. It soothed something in me the way Chase treated Tobias helping him but also being so supportive even when they were just friends. Honestly this was a feel good story that was filled with positivity. All the people surrounding Tobias where awesome.
May 15, 2026
Mental health rep, sunshine vs grumpy
I really enjoyed this story.
Tobias's struggles with anxiety were dealt with very well and realistically.
I loved how Chase was instantly all in to help Tobias.
The found family aspect was wonderful and I loved their quirky banter.
I really enjoyed this story.
Tobias's struggles with anxiety were dealt with very well and realistically.
I loved how Chase was instantly all in to help Tobias.
The found family aspect was wonderful and I loved their quirky banter.
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