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Elite Player: A Fake Engagement Hockey Romance
Hockey’s biggest playboy knocked me out with a puck. One minute, I’m taking pictures of the team, and the next, I’m in a hospital room. With a fiancé.
Due to his off-ice shenanigans, Nico Tremblay needs to prove to the front office that he has changed his ways or else. So, after he gives me a concussion and sprained writst, he concocts a wild idea to pretend we’re engaged. It would allow him to keep his spot on the team and get my family off my back.
There is only one small problem—no one would actually believe the gorgeous and charming left-winger could ever actually want to marry me, backward and inexperienced Josephine Atkins.
Except when he calls me his fiancée while staring at my lips, I almost believe it. Maybe it’s the concussion or a moment of wild rebellion against everyone I’ve ever known underestimating me…but I agree.
And then there’s no way out of this lie that binds us closer and closer together.
Due to his off-ice shenanigans, Nico Tremblay needs to prove to the front office that he has changed his ways or else. So, after he gives me a concussion and sprained writst, he concocts a wild idea to pretend we’re engaged. It would allow him to keep his spot on the team and get my family off my back.
There is only one small problem—no one would actually believe the gorgeous and charming left-winger could ever actually want to marry me, backward and inexperienced Josephine Atkins.
Except when he calls me his fiancée while staring at my lips, I almost believe it. Maybe it’s the concussion or a moment of wild rebellion against everyone I’ve ever known underestimating me…but I agree.
And then there’s no way out of this lie that binds us closer and closer together.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2026
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May 26, 2026
Assistant to the professional Philadelphia hockey team photographer, Jo is working near the boards during a training session when she’s beaned with a puck to the head. Waking up in the hospital after vomiting and losing consciousness, she’s confused when she sees a room full of bouquets, a life-sized bear, and numerous other gifts. Most disconcerting is the gorgeous blonde hockey player whose slap shot was responsible for her current malady. Nico insists on visiting Jo each day she’s in hospital and covering her medical expenses. What neither of them counted on was her overbearing, bullying family members showing up and assuming Nico is Jo’s fiancé. More surprisingly, Nico goes along with it because he feels certain it will rehab his image as a womanizer who happened to sleep with his previous team’s geriatric owner’s twenty-something trophy wife.
Always up for a good time, never a long time, Nico’s been super casual and prolific when it comes to hookups, but Jo affects him differently: he feels protective of her, especially when he witnesses the horrible way she’s treated like a pariah and a joke by her family, the very people who should’ve guarded her heart and kept her safe. As he learns more about her and finds himself truly enjoying her calming company, he becomes a man who’ll burn down the world to avenge her. Jo for her part has no defense against this charming, golden retriever reformed playboy, but she’s certain she’ll be crushed under the scrutiny of social media and reality. As their relationship takes a very steamy physical turn, their feelings deepen, but old wounds have left huge scars on both of them.
These two bring so much baggage but they don’t weaponize it against each other. I wanted to pummel both sets of parents: there’s nothing worse than a parent who actively bullies their child(ren) or favors one or more over another, and to willfully choose not to believe a child who’s reluctantly sharing a traumatic truth is unconscionable. It was lovely to see the camaraderie among the teammates and the management team as well as witnessing Nico stand up for Jo at every turn, admitting promptly when he overstepped. Watching Jo become slightly more self-assured was rewarding as well.
A book by Sophie Andrews is an auto-buy for me, and I couldn’t have been more pleased to have received this advance reader copy from Wicked Reads Services, for which I’m sharing my honest impressions.
Always up for a good time, never a long time, Nico’s been super casual and prolific when it comes to hookups, but Jo affects him differently: he feels protective of her, especially when he witnesses the horrible way she’s treated like a pariah and a joke by her family, the very people who should’ve guarded her heart and kept her safe. As he learns more about her and finds himself truly enjoying her calming company, he becomes a man who’ll burn down the world to avenge her. Jo for her part has no defense against this charming, golden retriever reformed playboy, but she’s certain she’ll be crushed under the scrutiny of social media and reality. As their relationship takes a very steamy physical turn, their feelings deepen, but old wounds have left huge scars on both of them.
These two bring so much baggage but they don’t weaponize it against each other. I wanted to pummel both sets of parents: there’s nothing worse than a parent who actively bullies their child(ren) or favors one or more over another, and to willfully choose not to believe a child who’s reluctantly sharing a traumatic truth is unconscionable. It was lovely to see the camaraderie among the teammates and the management team as well as witnessing Nico stand up for Jo at every turn, admitting promptly when he overstepped. Watching Jo become slightly more self-assured was rewarding as well.
A book by Sophie Andrews is an auto-buy for me, and I couldn’t have been more pleased to have received this advance reader copy from Wicked Reads Services, for which I’m sharing my honest impressions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
❝ So, the point is, I choose you. Fate did me a solid, but I will always choose you. Every day, I choose you.❞
𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ★★★★ | 3🌶️
𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔:
Hockey Romance
Golden Retriever × Black Cat
Fake Engagement
Virgin FMC
Reformed Playboy
Ugly Duckling
▶︎•၊၊||၊|။|||||။၊|။• emo girl by mgk feat. willow
⌞ 🏒 ⌝ ┊ 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓸 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓵𝓪𝔂
Nico is a total sweetheart!!! even with the playboy persona, he’s still so sweet. he’s thoughtful and always wants to make everyone happy. he’s actually perfect, but you know what they say about the happiest people? it’s not always rosy for them. he’s lonely himself until Jo comes along.
what makes his character hit even deeper is learning about his past and the sexual assault he experienced as a child. it adds a quiet weight to him that you don’t fully understand at first, but once you do, so many parts of him make sense in a different way.
i really appreciated that the story didn’t overlook it or treat it lightly. especially because male survivors are often not spoken about enough, it felt important that his experience was included and handled with care instead of being brushed aside.
⌞ 🖤 ⌝ ┊ 𝓙𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓐𝓽𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓼
oh my poor Jo.
she was bullied all her life and so she has low self-esteem. i felt so sorry for her. who bullies their own family for goodness sake? she has her walls up, but you start to see how much sunshine Nico brings into her life. he was her confidence booster, if i’m being honest. i never realized having a gap tooth was such a big insecurity for some people, especially since i’ve had one since i was a child.
┊͙ ˘͈ᵕ˘͈ this book had me cheesing so much!!! Nico is all the love languages combined final boss. i love him so much, he has definitely made it to the list of perfect men!
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ ❝Jo, I will always choose you. But you were right. We needed time to figure things out.❞
when things got tough for them after their big fight, he never stopped loving her and that was when i knew i was gone.
Jo isn’t used to being the first choice and Nico shows her every time that he’ll choose her. she starts to trust herself and stand up for herself.
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ it was so lovey-dovey and i ate this book up sooo fast!!! Nico let Jo set the pace of their relationship. he was okay with whatever she was willing to give him at the time, which i adored very much. he calls her “𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓪𝓼𝓼𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓮𝓶𝓸 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵” 🥹
their love is everything and i’ll miss them so much! they both encouraged each other to go to therapy instead of using themselves as a crutch for their feelings (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) ‹𝟹
𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓀 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈‼️
thank you @lunaliterary.management & @authorsophieandrews for the eARC
⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆
𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙: the blurb sounds so exciting!! a sports romance and fake engagement trope? oh yes!!!
the last arc i read was a fake dating romance and i had so much fun with it, so i have high hopes for this one 🤭🌟
my arcs have been pretty good recently, so i trust this one will be too
Review of advance copy received from Author
Tropes don't get much better than he falls first, sexy, playboy, hockey player, getting fake engaged to the socially awkward, virgin, team photographer in an attempt to clean up his image 🫣
Great story, well written characters with depth and trauma, that grow together and help and support each other in so many ways and of course their steamy chemistry helped too
The mental health rep was well done and necessary and I'm so happy the ending didn't involve an overnight magic fix to the family relationships... this felt real 💕
Thank you Sophie and Luna Literary for the great ARC opportunity
❤️ How I Rate Books
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was ok
⭐⭐⭐ I liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐Loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing! Will reread!
Great story, well written characters with depth and trauma, that grow together and help and support each other in so many ways and of course their steamy chemistry helped too
The mental health rep was well done and necessary and I'm so happy the ending didn't involve an overnight magic fix to the family relationships... this felt real 💕
Thank you Sophie and Luna Literary for the great ARC opportunity
❤️ How I Rate Books
⭐ didn't like it
⭐⭐ it was ok
⭐⭐⭐ I liked it
⭐⭐⭐⭐Loved it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing! Will reread!
June 15, 2026
Thank you SO much to the author Sophie Andrews for the complimentary copy of this!
This book is available now!
"Kinda turns me on to watch you drive."
"I'd assume a spring breeze turns you on."
"If it accidentally flipped up a sundress, absolutely."
I am fortunate enough to be friends with the author so I was able to express to the author how much I loved this book! And I think a lot of it has to do with the fact of how much of a golden retriever Nico was. Like I was obsessed with him. He accidentally hits Josephine, who is his hockey's team assistant photographer, with a puck that sends her to the hospital. Feeling horrible, he visits her in the hospital where her family assumes that he is her fiance she claimed she had.
Nico immediately just went right into fiance mode and didn't look back. He saw the way that her family was treating her (which you'll understand what that means when you read it) and wanted to urgently make things better for her. He has the reputation of being a playboy and because of his personal life mixed with how he is playing, he is on the brink of being traded. So faking an engagement with his kind of co worker seemed like the best way to also help him.
As I mentioned Nico was such a golden retriever and Jo just was so confused by it. She has never had attention from anyone but especially from a man. She has done a lot of work on herself to get her to where she is now but whenever she is around her family, they just knock her down. Nico makes her feel so special and spoils her rotten. And for her knowing his reputation, I would have felt like his stuff wasn't necessarily genuine because he jokes that he would pretty much have sex with anyone that walked (it may have been joking but still). We know in his POV that he is being truthful and as they go along with the whole fake engagement ruse, he begins to fall - hard and fast. She falls as well but its a more quiet fall. I think because of his reputation and because of her never have this kind of attention that it took her awhile for her to warm up to him and his advances.
"Nico, you're a famous hockey player, and I'm...nobody."
"You're my fiancee."
One of my favorite features of Nico is how protective he was of Jo. They had a family visit for her great grandmother's birthday and he was not putting up with any of their bull. He stands up to her which was just such a reminder how much he truly cared about her. He just wanted her to shine and have her interests/likes be championed. I always smiled when he would talk about something she liked and he goes "Jo loves it, so I do too." SWOOON!
There is a big 3rd act blow up with not only with each other but with her family. And I was stressed. I felt so bad for Nico with how things were going. I understand where Jo was coming from but I think the reaction could have been differently. I mentioned how much her family were no good and this scene really brought to light all the horrible things they have done with her. I am glad that this led to Josephine setting boundaries.
Sophie is SO great with banter and this one made me giggle and kick scream so many times! And just like with her other books, the spice was spicing! Jo may have been inexperience but Nico was patient and such a great teacher.
I just thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had told the author that this book is my new favorite of theirs! The next book in this sports series is baseball featuring brothers which was teased at the end of this one. Cannot wait!
I recommend this book if you love a hockey romance, fake engagement, dysfunctional families filled with heart, banter and spice!
This book is available now!
"Kinda turns me on to watch you drive."
"I'd assume a spring breeze turns you on."
"If it accidentally flipped up a sundress, absolutely."
I am fortunate enough to be friends with the author so I was able to express to the author how much I loved this book! And I think a lot of it has to do with the fact of how much of a golden retriever Nico was. Like I was obsessed with him. He accidentally hits Josephine, who is his hockey's team assistant photographer, with a puck that sends her to the hospital. Feeling horrible, he visits her in the hospital where her family assumes that he is her fiance she claimed she had.
Nico immediately just went right into fiance mode and didn't look back. He saw the way that her family was treating her (which you'll understand what that means when you read it) and wanted to urgently make things better for her. He has the reputation of being a playboy and because of his personal life mixed with how he is playing, he is on the brink of being traded. So faking an engagement with his kind of co worker seemed like the best way to also help him.
As I mentioned Nico was such a golden retriever and Jo just was so confused by it. She has never had attention from anyone but especially from a man. She has done a lot of work on herself to get her to where she is now but whenever she is around her family, they just knock her down. Nico makes her feel so special and spoils her rotten. And for her knowing his reputation, I would have felt like his stuff wasn't necessarily genuine because he jokes that he would pretty much have sex with anyone that walked (it may have been joking but still). We know in his POV that he is being truthful and as they go along with the whole fake engagement ruse, he begins to fall - hard and fast. She falls as well but its a more quiet fall. I think because of his reputation and because of her never have this kind of attention that it took her awhile for her to warm up to him and his advances.
"Nico, you're a famous hockey player, and I'm...nobody."
"You're my fiancee."
One of my favorite features of Nico is how protective he was of Jo. They had a family visit for her great grandmother's birthday and he was not putting up with any of their bull. He stands up to her which was just such a reminder how much he truly cared about her. He just wanted her to shine and have her interests/likes be championed. I always smiled when he would talk about something she liked and he goes "Jo loves it, so I do too." SWOOON!
There is a big 3rd act blow up with not only with each other but with her family. And I was stressed. I felt so bad for Nico with how things were going. I understand where Jo was coming from but I think the reaction could have been differently. I mentioned how much her family were no good and this scene really brought to light all the horrible things they have done with her. I am glad that this led to Josephine setting boundaries.
Sophie is SO great with banter and this one made me giggle and kick scream so many times! And just like with her other books, the spice was spicing! Jo may have been inexperience but Nico was patient and such a great teacher.
I just thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had told the author that this book is my new favorite of theirs! The next book in this sports series is baseball featuring brothers which was teased at the end of this one. Cannot wait!
I recommend this book if you love a hockey romance, fake engagement, dysfunctional families filled with heart, banter and spice!
June 11, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.75
🏒 Hockey Romance
✨️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Fake Relationship
✨️ Forced Proximity
🏒 Opposites Attract
✨️ Golden Retriver X Black Cat
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️
This was such a fun read from the very beginning. I loved Nico and how he was such a happy go lucky guy! He was the Sunshine and Jo was our grumpy! I love a reverse grumpy sunshine because it gives the book a more real feeling.
Nico needed to clean up his image, and the perfect opportunity to fix his reputation. Jo comes into the story by being the way that Nico can help straighten out his reputaiton. Jo hasn't been the luckiest in life or with her family, who unfortunately tells her frequently. Nico becomes the person in her life that is the dependable person she can lean on when she is having a rough time.
Nico has such a big heart and is more than happy to go out of his way to do something for Jo. He makes sure that she knows and feels that she is wanted, loved, valued and safe. Something that she could never get from her family, he makes sure that she feels it. Right in the chest, is where I felt it! I couldn't help but feel my heart warming up in such a way! I wish I could feel that feeling more when it comes to books!
I loved how they each shared the brunt of everything in their pasts with each other. They not only shouldered thier pasts together but also held understanding, had the patience for each ohter so easily, but also caring for each other in only a way that one would see between lovers.
I can't help but love the heartwarming moments all the way through the book! I couldn't help but fall for these characters and how they had so much emotional depth.
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Sophie Andrews✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️.75
🏒 Hockey Romance
✨️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Fake Relationship
✨️ Forced Proximity
🏒 Opposites Attract
✨️ Golden Retriver X Black Cat
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️
This was such a fun read from the very beginning. I loved Nico and how he was such a happy go lucky guy! He was the Sunshine and Jo was our grumpy! I love a reverse grumpy sunshine because it gives the book a more real feeling.
Nico needed to clean up his image, and the perfect opportunity to fix his reputation. Jo comes into the story by being the way that Nico can help straighten out his reputaiton. Jo hasn't been the luckiest in life or with her family, who unfortunately tells her frequently. Nico becomes the person in her life that is the dependable person she can lean on when she is having a rough time.
Nico has such a big heart and is more than happy to go out of his way to do something for Jo. He makes sure that she knows and feels that she is wanted, loved, valued and safe. Something that she could never get from her family, he makes sure that she feels it. Right in the chest, is where I felt it! I couldn't help but feel my heart warming up in such a way! I wish I could feel that feeling more when it comes to books!
I loved how they each shared the brunt of everything in their pasts with each other. They not only shouldered thier pasts together but also held understanding, had the patience for each ohter so easily, but also caring for each other in only a way that one would see between lovers.
I can't help but love the heartwarming moments all the way through the book! I couldn't help but fall for these characters and how they had so much emotional depth.
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Sophie Andrews✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
June 17, 2026
“Elite Player” by Sophie Andrews
📘 Format: Digital Book
📚 Pub Date: 06.05.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
“Elite Player” by Sophie Andrews is a fake-dating dual POV hockey romance.
Josephine and Nico find themselves in separate situations where they realize that it would be mutually beneficial for them to pretend to be engaged; with every intention to fake break-up in a few months’ time.
During this period of fake-dating, they genuinely support
and encourage each other.
They are legitimately interested in each other’s well being and they find that they have an instinct to protect each other. This leads them to start to consider that they may be better together, for real.
I loved the character development and personal growth that both Josephine and Nico experienced throughout the book, and it was fulfilling to read about their increasing self-awareness.
This book tackles some very difficult and challenging issues with sensitivity and grace. I was impressed to see the self-improvement that Josephine & Nico were able to achieve, in spite of the obstacles that they faced in their lives.
If you are interested in spicy content, this book has plenty.
Though I generally prefer reading sports books centering on the sport of Hockey, I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, “Fair Ball” by Sophie Andrews.
Thank you to Sophie Andrews & Luna Literary for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#ElitePlayer
#SophieAndrews
#LunaLiterary
📘 Format: Digital Book
📚 Pub Date: 06.05.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
“Elite Player” by Sophie Andrews is a fake-dating dual POV hockey romance.
Josephine and Nico find themselves in separate situations where they realize that it would be mutually beneficial for them to pretend to be engaged; with every intention to fake break-up in a few months’ time.
During this period of fake-dating, they genuinely support
and encourage each other.
They are legitimately interested in each other’s well being and they find that they have an instinct to protect each other. This leads them to start to consider that they may be better together, for real.
I loved the character development and personal growth that both Josephine and Nico experienced throughout the book, and it was fulfilling to read about their increasing self-awareness.
This book tackles some very difficult and challenging issues with sensitivity and grace. I was impressed to see the self-improvement that Josephine & Nico were able to achieve, in spite of the obstacles that they faced in their lives.
If you are interested in spicy content, this book has plenty.
Though I generally prefer reading sports books centering on the sport of Hockey, I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, “Fair Ball” by Sophie Andrews.
Thank you to Sophie Andrews & Luna Literary for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#ElitePlayer
#SophieAndrews
#LunaLiterary
June 5, 2026
Nico is a hockey player with a reputation for being a bit of a fckboy. One day he gets a talking to about cleaning up his act and behaving less like a player and more like a team member. He meets Josephine after an accident where he hits her in the head with a puck. Could it be fate? Jo is a shy and reserved photographer, she has had a rough upbringing full of bullying and she struggles to make eye contact with people, preferring to view life through the lens of a camera. Nico, golden retriever he is, befriends Jo and gets roped into a fake fiancé scheme. This works for him as well as he believes this will show the team’s managers that he’s settling down.
Both of these characters are complex with baggage they’re carrying with them through life due to their past. I loved Nico’s full steam ahead exuberance and he was always in Jo’s corner, even when things were ‘fake’. Jo was calm and quiet and brought Nico the peace he was missing in his life.
I really enjoyed this book. Nico was my favourite, I just love how all in he was from the get-go. Jo was smart, but also flawed which made her feel like someone I know and would spend time with in real life. She just had to believe in herself too. All of the men in Sophie’s books are always amazing and Nico is the same. He’s lovely and the perfect book boyfriend. I would definitely recommend reading this book, it was plot and spice.
I received an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Both of these characters are complex with baggage they’re carrying with them through life due to their past. I loved Nico’s full steam ahead exuberance and he was always in Jo’s corner, even when things were ‘fake’. Jo was calm and quiet and brought Nico the peace he was missing in his life.
I really enjoyed this book. Nico was my favourite, I just love how all in he was from the get-go. Jo was smart, but also flawed which made her feel like someone I know and would spend time with in real life. She just had to believe in herself too. All of the men in Sophie’s books are always amazing and Nico is the same. He’s lovely and the perfect book boyfriend. I would definitely recommend reading this book, it was plot and spice.
I received an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.
May 25, 2026
Nico (25) & Jo (25). A low-rank hockey player and a photographer that a random event brings together and decide to pretend being a couple due to various reasons.
He is a happy-go-lucky guy that flirts with every female that crosses his path but who is very loyal when he commits. In fact, he was too good to be true, I couldn’t find anything wrong with him, only that he was too happy all the time. She is an introvert with no self-esteem.
I found their relationship a bit awkward and forced tbh, without real chemistry. And I found the ending rather confusing.
It is a well written book but I don’t think the MCs are memorable.
-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️ for me.
I received an Adv. Readers version of this book and I have given this honest and voluntary review.
He is a happy-go-lucky guy that flirts with every female that crosses his path but who is very loyal when he commits. In fact, he was too good to be true, I couldn’t find anything wrong with him, only that he was too happy all the time. She is an introvert with no self-esteem.
I found their relationship a bit awkward and forced tbh, without real chemistry. And I found the ending rather confusing.
It is a well written book but I don’t think the MCs are memorable.
-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Overall: 3.5/5 ⭐️ for me.
I received an Adv. Readers version of this book and I have given this honest and voluntary review.
June 5, 2026
I devoured this book!! Nico and Jo couldn't be more opposite, but they work in the best ways!
Fake engagement
Opposites attract
Golden retriever x black cat
Hockey romance
Nico is on thin ice with his team; he needs to change his philandering ways or he's at risk to get traded. And when he actually shoots a puck right into Jo's face; he gets more than he bargained for when he goes to visit her in the hospital.
Jo is the outcast of her family and they make it known. The ridicule and bullying that they did literally made me sick to my stomach. I hated that so much for her!
Nico is the happy go lucky one and Jo is not. On paper, these two shouldn't work, but they balance one another out in the best ways.
I really loved this read and these characters! Hated Jo's entire family though!!
Fake engagement
Opposites attract
Golden retriever x black cat
Hockey romance
Nico is on thin ice with his team; he needs to change his philandering ways or he's at risk to get traded. And when he actually shoots a puck right into Jo's face; he gets more than he bargained for when he goes to visit her in the hospital.
Jo is the outcast of her family and they make it known. The ridicule and bullying that they did literally made me sick to my stomach. I hated that so much for her!
Nico is the happy go lucky one and Jo is not. On paper, these two shouldn't work, but they balance one another out in the best ways.
I really loved this read and these characters! Hated Jo's entire family though!!
June 12, 2026
Thank you to author Sophie Andrews for the arc of Elite Player! I love a good fake engagement especially with a reformed playboy and Nico and Josephine were such a good if not a little unexpected match! I loved that even though they were curious about and a little attracted to each other from the start, their relationship and eventually their love for each other grew as they truly got to know each other. Even with things to work through for both of them individually, I loved that they wanted to put the work in so they could be their best selves together. I look forward to reading what Sophie writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love a Sophie romance. From her swoon-worthy MMCs to her badass FMCs you really can’t help falling in love with her characters. The characters are real, and complex and you just have to read them to get to experience the magic of Sophie. This book is full golden retriever/black cat but there is so much more to it than that. I found myself in tears a few times, from how heartbreaking some of the moments were. Sophie beautifully describes how it feels to be the butt of the joke, the child trying too hard only to be continually pushed down by their family. It is a raw portrayal of depression and suicidal thoughts so be sure to read the trigger warnings if you have them. But I cannot express enough how Sophie navigates these topics so delicately and in a way that makes you feel seen. One thing I love about this author is how she writes boundaries for her characters and they get to stand up for themselves. Jo is trying her best to leave her past behind and until life literally hits her in the face she is content with where she is at. Until a hospital visit turns into a surprise fake engagement and her life becomes even more complicated. Nico is the playboy who cannot stay out of trouble or other peoples beds, so instead of denying this fake engagement he being a true golden retriever fully commits. Nico is not what you expect from a slutty hockey player, he is kind, and much like me loves smut. His love of the fated mates trope which is great don’t get me wrong but this book has some that are so much better like: He stands up for her, he chooses her, but the best one of all is found family. Nico and Jo found a home in each other and it warmed my whole heart. The sweet gentle way Nico helped Jo come out of her shell and the way she helped him understand that he did not have to carry his trauma alone. I have said it a million times but there is nothing hotter than a man in therapy, or maybe it is just the type of men written by Sophie. They are obsessed, empathetic, and always willing to get on their knees for their ladies. I mean that dressing room scene is going to live rent free in my mind. The spice is perfect for this book and the way Nico teaches Jo to love her body as much as he does is absolute perfection. If you want a hockey romance, with all the best tropes you have to pick up the Winning Love series.
4.5/5 stars 2/5 spice
Tropes
golden retriever/black cat
reformed playboy MMC
inexperience FMC
Found family
Hockey romance
fake engagement
4.5/5 stars 2/5 spice
Tropes
golden retriever/black cat
reformed playboy MMC
inexperience FMC
Found family
Hockey romance
fake engagement
June 11, 2026
Nico is already in hot water with management of his hockey team for his playboy lifestyle when an arrant puck he slap shots at practice hits a fellow employee, sending her to the hospital. Jo has long been on the sidelines of the team taking pictures, and building her own photography business on the side, when a puck to the head inconveniently allows her family to jump to the wrong conclusions about her life. When they catch Nico visiting her at the hospital, they jump to the wrong idea, assuming he’s her fiancé (you know, the one she has lied to them about for months), and he plays along, happy to use Jo for boosting his image as a stable and responsible team player. As they put their fake relationship forward to the public, Nico begins to learn what real friendship and love looks like and Jo is forced to face her rocky past and insecurities.
————————
I have happily enjoyed all of this author’s previous work, and will continue to read her books with enthusiasm, but this one just didn’t vibe with me.
The main characters were difficult for me to relate to, and therefore I couldn’t connect to the story very well. I thought there was a lot of depth and thought put into their backgrounds and it was handled with care, but it fell flat for me.
Nico was pushy and didn’t listen, and often physically trapped Jo (between his arms, against vehicles, etc) and it cane across as she was uncomfortable. Considering his history, I would have thought he would be more mindful of that. Jo was a hot mess. No self confidence. No backbone. Very awkward. I think all of that is fair considering how she was treated by her family growing up, but I would have liked to see some character growth from her that didn’t directly relate to being Nico’s partner.
The elements are all here for a great story and I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this one. It just was a little forced for me.
Thank you to Sophie Andrews for an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
————————
I have happily enjoyed all of this author’s previous work, and will continue to read her books with enthusiasm, but this one just didn’t vibe with me.
The main characters were difficult for me to relate to, and therefore I couldn’t connect to the story very well. I thought there was a lot of depth and thought put into their backgrounds and it was handled with care, but it fell flat for me.
Nico was pushy and didn’t listen, and often physically trapped Jo (between his arms, against vehicles, etc) and it cane across as she was uncomfortable. Considering his history, I would have thought he would be more mindful of that. Jo was a hot mess. No self confidence. No backbone. Very awkward. I think all of that is fair considering how she was treated by her family growing up, but I would have liked to see some character growth from her that didn’t directly relate to being Nico’s partner.
The elements are all here for a great story and I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this one. It just was a little forced for me.
Thank you to Sophie Andrews for an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2026
𝓔𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓟𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻
By Sophie Andrews
Sophie bringing us a hockey “fake engagement“ romance and then hitting us with all the feels and emotional upheaval makes this a must read. Do not hesitate to grab this one. Nico will steal your whole heart.
Nico Tremblay.
He’s a left winger for the Philadelphia Iron hockey team, a playboy in trouble with management. Then he meets Jo. He unintentionally injures her! Their initial meeting will draw you right into this heart stirring romance. You’ll fall in love with Nico and his generous, protective ways toward Jo.
Josephine “Jo” Atkins.
She left her tiny town in West Virginia to get away from a family that not only caused her insecurities, but still prays on them, with certain family members being outright bullies toward her. She’s now pursuing what she loves. Photography. But her mother is pressuring her to return home, so how about announcing an engagement to a hockey player! Ummmm. . . She just needs to inform Nico.
Nico agrees to the arrangement since it will help get management off his back and he wants to help Jo avoid her family harassing her to move home. He meets them once and sees immediately how awful they treat Jo. But Nico finds himself falling for Jo and there’s nothing much fake about his feelings. But Jo? She’s having a really hard time believing this handsome hockey player would truly choose her. No one ever has.
You’re going to swoon over Nico. For instance: “𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑒’𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓇𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝑒𝒸𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝐼’𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇.” Now Jo just has to believe in him. As Jo tells Nico, “𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝓊𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓇 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀.” “𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝓃𝑜𝓉?” “𝐼𝓉 𝓁𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝓂𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓇.” A lifetime of trauma. Nico has his work cut out for him. But when he finally tells off her family? Yea. I may have applauded.
Nico also has a past that’s heartbreaking and it takes a minute for him to open but when he does? They both begin to heal, survive, and finally, thrive.
I loved this couple. You will too.
By Sophie Andrews
Sophie bringing us a hockey “fake engagement“ romance and then hitting us with all the feels and emotional upheaval makes this a must read. Do not hesitate to grab this one. Nico will steal your whole heart.
Nico Tremblay.
He’s a left winger for the Philadelphia Iron hockey team, a playboy in trouble with management. Then he meets Jo. He unintentionally injures her! Their initial meeting will draw you right into this heart stirring romance. You’ll fall in love with Nico and his generous, protective ways toward Jo.
Josephine “Jo” Atkins.
She left her tiny town in West Virginia to get away from a family that not only caused her insecurities, but still prays on them, with certain family members being outright bullies toward her. She’s now pursuing what she loves. Photography. But her mother is pressuring her to return home, so how about announcing an engagement to a hockey player! Ummmm. . . She just needs to inform Nico.
Nico agrees to the arrangement since it will help get management off his back and he wants to help Jo avoid her family harassing her to move home. He meets them once and sees immediately how awful they treat Jo. But Nico finds himself falling for Jo and there’s nothing much fake about his feelings. But Jo? She’s having a really hard time believing this handsome hockey player would truly choose her. No one ever has.
You’re going to swoon over Nico. For instance: “𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑒’𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓇𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝑒𝒸𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝐼’𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇.” Now Jo just has to believe in him. As Jo tells Nico, “𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝓊𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓇 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀.” “𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝓃𝑜𝓉?” “𝐼𝓉 𝓁𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝓂𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓇.” A lifetime of trauma. Nico has his work cut out for him. But when he finally tells off her family? Yea. I may have applauded.
Nico also has a past that’s heartbreaking and it takes a minute for him to open but when he does? They both begin to heal, survive, and finally, thrive.
I loved this couple. You will too.
June 15, 2026
I don't know anyone who has never been bullied before. Jo's family definitely takes the cake though. After being bullied by her whole town-including everyone in her family- her entire life, Josephine has moved away from home to start a career as a photographer's assistant. That job apparently comes with unseen hazards, and a puck to the head while working with the local hockey team has her meeting Nico -the golden retriever on skates responsible for her concussion.
Nico hasn't looked twice before at the assistant to the team's photographer, until his wild shot forces him to see what he was missing. The sweetheart he is, now that he has noticed, he can't stop himself from spending all his time thinking about this girl. On his second visit to her hospital room this gets him into trouble as he tries to help her out and ends up with a brand new fake fiancé for it.
Nico and Jo continue the mutually beneficial agreement, and start to enjoy each other's company more and more. It is super sweet going along for the ride as they both have their first serious relationship and figure things out as they go.
There is a lot going on in this book- from some serious bullying, to childhood abuse and parental neglect. There are sweet, swoony moments and sexy as all get out scenes involving a camera or a darkroom. Both characters go through some major healing of lifelong trauma and Jo gets the bonus of figuring out her career along the way as well.
This book was particularly special to me because of the ways Jo has hidden behind a camera for most of her life. I spent my awkward years the same way- and turned it into my career too. Jo having her artistic success so young is healing to anyone who might have been overlooked for their creativity in the past because they don't know how to toot their own horn.
On the surface it's a fake dating hockey romance, but this book is definitely much more. It's worth a second look.
Thanks to the author for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Nico hasn't looked twice before at the assistant to the team's photographer, until his wild shot forces him to see what he was missing. The sweetheart he is, now that he has noticed, he can't stop himself from spending all his time thinking about this girl. On his second visit to her hospital room this gets him into trouble as he tries to help her out and ends up with a brand new fake fiancé for it.
Nico and Jo continue the mutually beneficial agreement, and start to enjoy each other's company more and more. It is super sweet going along for the ride as they both have their first serious relationship and figure things out as they go.
There is a lot going on in this book- from some serious bullying, to childhood abuse and parental neglect. There are sweet, swoony moments and sexy as all get out scenes involving a camera or a darkroom. Both characters go through some major healing of lifelong trauma and Jo gets the bonus of figuring out her career along the way as well.
This book was particularly special to me because of the ways Jo has hidden behind a camera for most of her life. I spent my awkward years the same way- and turned it into my career too. Jo having her artistic success so young is healing to anyone who might have been overlooked for their creativity in the past because they don't know how to toot their own horn.
On the surface it's a fake dating hockey romance, but this book is definitely much more. It's worth a second look.
Thanks to the author for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
🏒🖤 ARC review 🖤🏒
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
First and foremost, I want to thank Sophie Andrews and her team for allowing me to read Elite Player. It was such a blast and an honor to be immersed in Nico and Jo’s love story. Thank you for including me in your ARC team! 💕
Hi fellow readers,
If you are looking for a speedy hockey romance to devour in one sitting that touches on real contemporary topics that many of us go through while still having a feel-good romantic aspect, then look no further than Elite Player. It touches on childhood trauma related to SA, SI, and bullying, so please be mindful before reading.
Nico is the ideal gold retriever MMC type that you will find yourself asking how did he get from point A to B in his character development. When did he know that Jo was his HEA, was it really a fated mate trope, as Nico would say, or did it gradually sneak up on him. At the start of the book, he is this intense playboy, and he hits Jo, whom he has only seen but never talked to, with a hockey puck. From this, the story unfolds into a fake engagement trope with a sprinkle of mess with her, and you will pay for it attitude.
Jo is a great contrast to the MMC, being a reserved wallflower type. She is labeled as gothic/emo, but one could say she is really just trying to discover who she is. She brings out a more dependable and wanting to be the improve version out of Nico. I think as the story unfolds, the reader is captivated by the okay confess already aspect of the novel. However, something huge happens, and then ensues the dreaded third-act breakup trope. Now this is where I really struggle with most novels is this trope because it’s often written so well that I start getting annoyed with the person who facilitates the breakup. For this reason, I know that Sophie Andrews did a phenomenal job writing the third-act breakup trope and the book as a whole.
All in all, if hockey is your thing. Give Elite Player a read!
🏒🖤 ARC review 🖤🏒
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
First and foremost, I want to thank Sophie Andrews and her team for allowing me to read Elite Player. It was such a blast and an honor to be immersed in Nico and Jo’s love story. Thank you for including me in your ARC team! 💕
Hi fellow readers,
If you are looking for a speedy hockey romance to devour in one sitting that touches on real contemporary topics that many of us go through while still having a feel-good romantic aspect, then look no further than Elite Player. It touches on childhood trauma related to SA, SI, and bullying, so please be mindful before reading.
Nico is the ideal gold retriever MMC type that you will find yourself asking how did he get from point A to B in his character development. When did he know that Jo was his HEA, was it really a fated mate trope, as Nico would say, or did it gradually sneak up on him. At the start of the book, he is this intense playboy, and he hits Jo, whom he has only seen but never talked to, with a hockey puck. From this, the story unfolds into a fake engagement trope with a sprinkle of mess with her, and you will pay for it attitude.
Jo is a great contrast to the MMC, being a reserved wallflower type. She is labeled as gothic/emo, but one could say she is really just trying to discover who she is. She brings out a more dependable and wanting to be the improve version out of Nico. I think as the story unfolds, the reader is captivated by the okay confess already aspect of the novel. However, something huge happens, and then ensues the dreaded third-act breakup trope. Now this is where I really struggle with most novels is this trope because it’s often written so well that I start getting annoyed with the person who facilitates the breakup. For this reason, I know that Sophie Andrews did a phenomenal job writing the third-act breakup trope and the book as a whole.
All in all, if hockey is your thing. Give Elite Player a read!
Review of advance copy
💍 fake engagement
🖤 emotionally damaged babes falling in love
✨ he falls first
🤝 consent king
Elite Player had me giggling, sobbing, blushing and emotionally attached to a fictional hockey man at an honestly concerning rate.
Nico is peak book boyfriend material. Flirty, cocky, devoted, but underneath all the charm he’s carrying his own pain and insecurities. The man literally goes out of his way to make women feel safe and respected and somehow that was hotter than half the spice scenes. Meanwhile Jo completely broke my heart. She’s quiet, emotionally neglected, painfully unsure of her worth and radiating the most devastating middle-child energy imaginable. Watching Nico slowly notice her, support her, and genuinely see her had me internally screaming.
What really got me though was how organic their connection felt. Nico doesn’t swoop in as some perfect saviour, he’s messy too, insecure in his own ways, painfully aware of his flaws and trying to work through his own trauma. Their relationship builds through safety, patience, trust and finally being truly seen by another person, which made every soft moment hit ten times harder… balanced beautifully by the occasional dressing room face-sitting incident.
This was one of those books that somehow balances devastating emotional damage with the softest tenderness imaginable. The angst hurts, the healing hits even harder, and despite tackling heavy themes like sexual assault, abuse, mental health struggles and emotional neglect, Sophie Andrews handles everything with so much care and compassion without ever losing the warmth, hope and intimacy at the heart of the romance.
This book had me smiling so hard my face hurt one chapter and openly crying into my Kindle the next. Sophie Andrews absolutely killed this one and I genuinely cannot recommend it enough.
Huge thank you to Sophie Andrews and Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🖤 emotionally damaged babes falling in love
✨ he falls first
🤝 consent king
Elite Player had me giggling, sobbing, blushing and emotionally attached to a fictional hockey man at an honestly concerning rate.
Nico is peak book boyfriend material. Flirty, cocky, devoted, but underneath all the charm he’s carrying his own pain and insecurities. The man literally goes out of his way to make women feel safe and respected and somehow that was hotter than half the spice scenes. Meanwhile Jo completely broke my heart. She’s quiet, emotionally neglected, painfully unsure of her worth and radiating the most devastating middle-child energy imaginable. Watching Nico slowly notice her, support her, and genuinely see her had me internally screaming.
What really got me though was how organic their connection felt. Nico doesn’t swoop in as some perfect saviour, he’s messy too, insecure in his own ways, painfully aware of his flaws and trying to work through his own trauma. Their relationship builds through safety, patience, trust and finally being truly seen by another person, which made every soft moment hit ten times harder… balanced beautifully by the occasional dressing room face-sitting incident.
This was one of those books that somehow balances devastating emotional damage with the softest tenderness imaginable. The angst hurts, the healing hits even harder, and despite tackling heavy themes like sexual assault, abuse, mental health struggles and emotional neglect, Sophie Andrews handles everything with so much care and compassion without ever losing the warmth, hope and intimacy at the heart of the romance.
This book had me smiling so hard my face hurt one chapter and openly crying into my Kindle the next. Sophie Andrews absolutely killed this one and I genuinely cannot recommend it enough.
Huge thank you to Sophie Andrews and Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely LOVED Elite Player 😍 A he-falls-first, fake engagement, emotionally driven story between Nico, a pro hockey player and Jo, one of the teams photographers ❤️
Nico is a bit of a playboy and the uppers in the NHL don't like it one bit. After a warning to stop his ways or he may be traded - and an unfortunate puck to the noggin accident landing poor Jo in the hospital - these 2 come up with a plan of a fake engagement not only to show the league Nico has calmed his ways but also to get Jo's overbearing family off of her back.
Jo has been bullied her whole life by her family and the small town she escaped from and the poor girl has next to no self confidence when we first meet her. She hides behind baggy clothes, her hair, and her camera and I found myself relating to her in so many ways 🥹
Nico on the other hand is hilariously outspoken, confidant and a true golden retriever *swoon* 🥰 Although he does come with his fair share of trauma that he has kept inside ... until he found Jo.
The way these two connected was so beautiful. Nico showers Jo with affection, gifts, and love (his nickname for her is mama and I just melted everytime he said it 🥰) and it doesn't take long for true feelings to blossom between them. Jo is also a vigin and finds herself wanting to learn more from Nico after he begins to show her how a woman should be treated and her confidence starts to grow 😉
I loved how Nico was so interested in everything Jo was interested in 🥹 He learns to knit because Jo knits. Takes interest in photography because Jo loves it. He truly stole my heart and was absolute perfection (did I just gain a new book boyfriend? 🤭)
After a few tense situations that could have ripped them apart, the love they shared through it all ultimately brought them closer together and made them both stronger, individually and as a pair. I loved the found family that they created ❤️
This was my first book of Sophie's and it won't be my last! I loved her easy to read writing style and I couldn't put this book down! I devoured it and I keep thinking about these 2 and their happily ever after 💞
Thank you so much to Sophie and Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Nico is a bit of a playboy and the uppers in the NHL don't like it one bit. After a warning to stop his ways or he may be traded - and an unfortunate puck to the noggin accident landing poor Jo in the hospital - these 2 come up with a plan of a fake engagement not only to show the league Nico has calmed his ways but also to get Jo's overbearing family off of her back.
Jo has been bullied her whole life by her family and the small town she escaped from and the poor girl has next to no self confidence when we first meet her. She hides behind baggy clothes, her hair, and her camera and I found myself relating to her in so many ways 🥹
Nico on the other hand is hilariously outspoken, confidant and a true golden retriever *swoon* 🥰 Although he does come with his fair share of trauma that he has kept inside ... until he found Jo.
The way these two connected was so beautiful. Nico showers Jo with affection, gifts, and love (his nickname for her is mama and I just melted everytime he said it 🥰) and it doesn't take long for true feelings to blossom between them. Jo is also a vigin and finds herself wanting to learn more from Nico after he begins to show her how a woman should be treated and her confidence starts to grow 😉
I loved how Nico was so interested in everything Jo was interested in 🥹 He learns to knit because Jo knits. Takes interest in photography because Jo loves it. He truly stole my heart and was absolute perfection (did I just gain a new book boyfriend? 🤭)
After a few tense situations that could have ripped them apart, the love they shared through it all ultimately brought them closer together and made them both stronger, individually and as a pair. I loved the found family that they created ❤️
This was my first book of Sophie's and it won't be my last! I loved her easy to read writing style and I couldn't put this book down! I devoured it and I keep thinking about these 2 and their happily ever after 💞
Thank you so much to Sophie and Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2026
Received as an ARC copy
I typically adore Sophie Andrew's books and am always super grateful to receive an arc of her books, however i just didn't mesh well with this one at all.
I was enjoying the start of the book, i love a fake engagement trope and always enjoy a sports romance. However as i started to get more into the book the characters began to really frustrate me.
I couldn't cope with the FMC, i understood she had a hard childhood/past however she was supposedly 'doing better' and working on herself yet i didn't feel like that was true until the very end. It felt like she didn't give FMC vibes as she didn't really have much character growth except in the bedroom department. And then right at the end she finally stood up for herself, decided she needed therapy and finally 'gave in' to love, all in the span of the last two chapters.
The MMC frustrated me more as she had told him about her past with the one guy she 'loved' and he knew she had this fear that men pretend they care about her etc and don't feel the way she does. Yet knowing all this he didn't tell her how he felt, he kept it all in until right near the end and then told her when all the family drama was happening. I don't know why but it all just frustrated me so much.
Neither of the characters had good relationship communication and the third act break up personally didn't feel 'real' or needed.
All this to say i personally just didn't like the characters in this one. However i enjoyed that there was 'alternative' rep with the FMC being gothic and i liked that it touched on sexual assault, self harm and suicidal ideation. I'm always glad to see when they're represented in books.
Even though i didn't enjoy this book i will still continue reading Sophie Andrew's because every other book I've read by her has been phenomenal 😍
I typically adore Sophie Andrew's books and am always super grateful to receive an arc of her books, however i just didn't mesh well with this one at all.
I was enjoying the start of the book, i love a fake engagement trope and always enjoy a sports romance. However as i started to get more into the book the characters began to really frustrate me.
I couldn't cope with the FMC, i understood she had a hard childhood/past however she was supposedly 'doing better' and working on herself yet i didn't feel like that was true until the very end. It felt like she didn't give FMC vibes as she didn't really have much character growth except in the bedroom department. And then right at the end she finally stood up for herself, decided she needed therapy and finally 'gave in' to love, all in the span of the last two chapters.
The MMC frustrated me more as she had told him about her past with the one guy she 'loved' and he knew she had this fear that men pretend they care about her etc and don't feel the way she does. Yet knowing all this he didn't tell her how he felt, he kept it all in until right near the end and then told her when all the family drama was happening. I don't know why but it all just frustrated me so much.
Neither of the characters had good relationship communication and the third act break up personally didn't feel 'real' or needed.
All this to say i personally just didn't like the characters in this one. However i enjoyed that there was 'alternative' rep with the FMC being gothic and i liked that it touched on sexual assault, self harm and suicidal ideation. I'm always glad to see when they're represented in books.
Even though i didn't enjoy this book i will still continue reading Sophie Andrew's because every other book I've read by her has been phenomenal 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2026
“She’s been running from her family, and I think I’ve been trying to find one this whole time.”
📚Type- E-ARC Luna Literary
🎼Song Vibe- Ruin by Shawn Mendes
💬POV- Dual
💞Relationship- MF
🌶️Spice- Yes
💭Thoughts at 18%
Sir you met her family you would run too.
💭Thoughts at 28%
I love Nico he is the ultimate bullsh*tter
💭Thoughts at 60%
YES I love a protective Nico
📝Review📝
Nico is coming for best fake fiancé book boyfriend because as much of a player he seems in the first chapter he is the best. He is also obsessed with fated mates and dinosaur shifting fiction keeping you on your toes for what he will say next. The fact that he meets Jo by accidentally sending a puck to her head then walking into a fake engagement really works for these two. Jo is the complete opposite of Nico honestly having to see how her family treated her. My heart broke for her. Nico really helps her learn to stand up for herself and he doesn’t mind doing it either. I loved everything: the banter, the romance, the friendship. I wish I started reading Sophie sooner. I also enjoyed seeing more of Malcolm
~~What to Expect~~
🏒Pro Hockey
📷Fake Engagement
🏒Strangers to Friends to Lovers
📷Virign MC
🏒Spice Lessons
📷Found Family
🏒Refromed Playboy
📷Black Cat X Golden Reteriever
~~Quotes~~
💙Generous? Extraordinary? The hottest hockey player ever to knock you out withe puck? Yeah, you’re right I am
💙She is my quiet place, my soft landing, and I’d don’t know how I’ll ever be able to give her up after this season is over.
💙Maybe it was fate that I hit her with that puck. That we were meant to crash into each other’s lives.
💙And I fear I’ve gone and done the thing I didn’t want to do. I’ve fallen for my fake fiancé.
📚Type- E-ARC Luna Literary
🎼Song Vibe- Ruin by Shawn Mendes
💬POV- Dual
💞Relationship- MF
🌶️Spice- Yes
💭Thoughts at 18%
Sir you met her family you would run too.
💭Thoughts at 28%
I love Nico he is the ultimate bullsh*tter
💭Thoughts at 60%
YES I love a protective Nico
📝Review📝
Nico is coming for best fake fiancé book boyfriend because as much of a player he seems in the first chapter he is the best. He is also obsessed with fated mates and dinosaur shifting fiction keeping you on your toes for what he will say next. The fact that he meets Jo by accidentally sending a puck to her head then walking into a fake engagement really works for these two. Jo is the complete opposite of Nico honestly having to see how her family treated her. My heart broke for her. Nico really helps her learn to stand up for herself and he doesn’t mind doing it either. I loved everything: the banter, the romance, the friendship. I wish I started reading Sophie sooner. I also enjoyed seeing more of Malcolm
~~What to Expect~~
🏒Pro Hockey
📷Fake Engagement
🏒Strangers to Friends to Lovers
📷Virign MC
🏒Spice Lessons
📷Found Family
🏒Refromed Playboy
📷Black Cat X Golden Reteriever
~~Quotes~~
💙Generous? Extraordinary? The hottest hockey player ever to knock you out withe puck? Yeah, you’re right I am
💙She is my quiet place, my soft landing, and I’d don’t know how I’ll ever be able to give her up after this season is over.
💙Maybe it was fate that I hit her with that puck. That we were meant to crash into each other’s lives.
💙And I fear I’ve gone and done the thing I didn’t want to do. I’ve fallen for my fake fiancé.
June 15, 2026
This was such a good read right from the first chapter.
Nico, a gorgeous NHL player, but he’s also a great player in the sheets. That’s what his reputation is at least and his bosses have had enough, so he’s been told, shape up or ship out!
Josephine is the assistant photographer of the NHL team and quite simply blends into the background wherever she is. It’s a skill she’s developed throughout her life, never wanting to draw attention to herself or her appearance. Unfortunately this proves difficult once Nico hits a puck into her head!
Jo has been telling her (thoroughly unpleasant) family that she is engaged, when Nico comes to the hospital to apologise he finds himself betrothed and like a good sport, goes along with it and seems perplexed as to why her family are so unkind to her and that she allows them to do this.
Nico is so kind, caring, considerate and shows that he has such a big heart by agreeing to go along with their fake engagement as he thinks this will help him keep his contract with the team.
He does his best to make sure that she feels safe, that she is wanted,is fun and interesting. All things that she has never experienced from her family.
It was so enjoyable to read a budding relationship where communication was honest and clear, there was a lot of banter between the two, Nico coaxing the Jo, she has been hiding away from everyone.
When Nico opens up to Jo about her childhood trauma, it was really touching and that she simply listened and told him how proud she was of him to speaking his truth.
As the relationship unfolds, you are rooting for them both through the most difficult times, but have faith, this is a HEA ending.
Nico, a gorgeous NHL player, but he’s also a great player in the sheets. That’s what his reputation is at least and his bosses have had enough, so he’s been told, shape up or ship out!
Josephine is the assistant photographer of the NHL team and quite simply blends into the background wherever she is. It’s a skill she’s developed throughout her life, never wanting to draw attention to herself or her appearance. Unfortunately this proves difficult once Nico hits a puck into her head!
Jo has been telling her (thoroughly unpleasant) family that she is engaged, when Nico comes to the hospital to apologise he finds himself betrothed and like a good sport, goes along with it and seems perplexed as to why her family are so unkind to her and that she allows them to do this.
Nico is so kind, caring, considerate and shows that he has such a big heart by agreeing to go along with their fake engagement as he thinks this will help him keep his contract with the team.
He does his best to make sure that she feels safe, that she is wanted,is fun and interesting. All things that she has never experienced from her family.
It was so enjoyable to read a budding relationship where communication was honest and clear, there was a lot of banter between the two, Nico coaxing the Jo, she has been hiding away from everyone.
When Nico opens up to Jo about her childhood trauma, it was really touching and that she simply listened and told him how proud she was of him to speaking his truth.
As the relationship unfolds, you are rooting for them both through the most difficult times, but have faith, this is a HEA ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"The real quote is 'the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,' meaning the bonds we choose are stronger than the ones we're born with, and if my few minutes with these people are any indication, Josephine's natural bonds can fuck right off."
This couple melted my heart. Josephine has built walls around herself after being treated less than her whole life; Nico appears to be a cocky playboy. Together, they learn to shine light on the things they keep hidden and that not everyone is as they appear. I loved getting to see Josephine find her voice and stand up for herself, and getting to see Nico fall HARD for her. Nico is a consent king and I may have clapped out loud during some of his scenes. His upbringing and past trauma crushed me. Seeing him open up about what happened and using his voice to spread awareness had me teary eyed. I loved these two together so much.
This story had me laughing out loud, cheering them on, and swooning hard. The main characters and side characters really keep the story moving and represent so many different types of people. The pacing was great and the story never felt stagnant. I loved getting to see Camden & Nadine from Going Deep pop up.
"We can call it a day right now, if that's what you want. But if you want more, you have to tell me. I need to hear your words. I need you to tell me what you want me to do."
Sophie Andrews is an auto-read author for me and she should be one for you too. I've been an absolute fangirl for her since picking up Love at a Funeral & Other Awkward Conversations and I don't think I'll ever stop. Her characters are flawed & real. Her stories are funny, sweet & spicy, and yet emotional. Her books just continue to get better and better.
"Maybe this is fate. Maybe this was always the way it was supposed to happen. The reformed player with the shy, backward virgin. It is something out of a book."
Elite Player is my favorite book of the Winning Lover series so far. I can't wait to read about the other members of the "bad boys club" in the next book!
This couple melted my heart. Josephine has built walls around herself after being treated less than her whole life; Nico appears to be a cocky playboy. Together, they learn to shine light on the things they keep hidden and that not everyone is as they appear. I loved getting to see Josephine find her voice and stand up for herself, and getting to see Nico fall HARD for her. Nico is a consent king and I may have clapped out loud during some of his scenes. His upbringing and past trauma crushed me. Seeing him open up about what happened and using his voice to spread awareness had me teary eyed. I loved these two together so much.
This story had me laughing out loud, cheering them on, and swooning hard. The main characters and side characters really keep the story moving and represent so many different types of people. The pacing was great and the story never felt stagnant. I loved getting to see Camden & Nadine from Going Deep pop up.
"We can call it a day right now, if that's what you want. But if you want more, you have to tell me. I need to hear your words. I need you to tell me what you want me to do."
Sophie Andrews is an auto-read author for me and she should be one for you too. I've been an absolute fangirl for her since picking up Love at a Funeral & Other Awkward Conversations and I don't think I'll ever stop. Her characters are flawed & real. Her stories are funny, sweet & spicy, and yet emotional. Her books just continue to get better and better.
"Maybe this is fate. Maybe this was always the way it was supposed to happen. The reformed player with the shy, backward virgin. It is something out of a book."
Elite Player is my favorite book of the Winning Lover series so far. I can't wait to read about the other members of the "bad boys club" in the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
5🌟, 3🌶️
This was one of those books that had me emotionally attached before I even realized it.
Nico is a hockey player trying to repair his reputation, while Jo is the team photographer whose life gets turned upside down after he accidentally injures her. What starts as a fake engagement for mutual benefit slowly grows into something real, and watching their relationship develop felt incredibly rewarding. Every step of their journey felt authentic, making it easy to become invested in them from the very beginning.
What stayed with me most was the way they helped each other carry the weight of their pasts. Jo has endured so much because of her toxic family, and seeing Nico become the steady, dependable person she could lean on was genuinely heartwarming. He has such a big heart and constantly goes out of his way to make her feel safe, valued, and loved. They are both carrying their own scars, but the patience, understanding, and care they show one another made their connection feel even more special.
This story balances emotional depth with tender, heartwarming moments so well. One chapter had me holding back tears, and the next had me smiling like an idiot. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but it was their growth, healing, and unwavering support for each other that truly made this story unforgettable.
Their journey was beautiful, emotional, and impossible not to love.
~~~~
Huge thank you to the lovely Sophie Andrews & her Team for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This was one of those books that had me emotionally attached before I even realized it.
Nico is a hockey player trying to repair his reputation, while Jo is the team photographer whose life gets turned upside down after he accidentally injures her. What starts as a fake engagement for mutual benefit slowly grows into something real, and watching their relationship develop felt incredibly rewarding. Every step of their journey felt authentic, making it easy to become invested in them from the very beginning.
What stayed with me most was the way they helped each other carry the weight of their pasts. Jo has endured so much because of her toxic family, and seeing Nico become the steady, dependable person she could lean on was genuinely heartwarming. He has such a big heart and constantly goes out of his way to make her feel safe, valued, and loved. They are both carrying their own scars, but the patience, understanding, and care they show one another made their connection feel even more special.
This story balances emotional depth with tender, heartwarming moments so well. One chapter had me holding back tears, and the next had me smiling like an idiot. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but it was their growth, healing, and unwavering support for each other that truly made this story unforgettable.
Their journey was beautiful, emotional, and impossible not to love.
~~~~
Huge thank you to the lovely Sophie Andrews & her Team for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
June 8, 2026
Elite Player is the second book in the Winning Love series by Sophie Andrews, and I enjoyed Elite Player just as much as the first book. Nico Tremblay is a playboy hockey player trying to reform his image. Josephine (Jo) Atkins is an assistant photographer for Nico’s team. Unfortunately for Nico, he ends up hitting Jo with a hockey puck and sending her to the hospital.
Jo’s family come to see her in the hospital and think Nico is her fiancé. He doesn’t correct their assumption since he believes it will help his image with team management. Nico and Jo develop a friendship that turns into more, but first they each have to work on their own family issues before they can come together as a real couple without so much baggage.
Jo has confidence issues around her family because they have belittled her all her life, but she isn’t that way with Nico. I love that Jo isn’t afraid to speak her mind with Nico despite his being a professional athlete and the handsome son of a former model. And Nico truly likes Jo just the way she is, unlike her family. Nico has his own demons from childhood that he needs to work on. He eventually works through his issues so that he and Jo can have a real relationship instead of him just being her fake fiancé.
One thing that I like about Sophie Andrews’ stories is that she isn’t afraid to deal with sensitive issues. The characters have flaws, and they have to deal with trauma in their lives. They get their Happily Ever After but have to work for it first!
Jo’s family come to see her in the hospital and think Nico is her fiancé. He doesn’t correct their assumption since he believes it will help his image with team management. Nico and Jo develop a friendship that turns into more, but first they each have to work on their own family issues before they can come together as a real couple without so much baggage.
Jo has confidence issues around her family because they have belittled her all her life, but she isn’t that way with Nico. I love that Jo isn’t afraid to speak her mind with Nico despite his being a professional athlete and the handsome son of a former model. And Nico truly likes Jo just the way she is, unlike her family. Nico has his own demons from childhood that he needs to work on. He eventually works through his issues so that he and Jo can have a real relationship instead of him just being her fake fiancé.
One thing that I like about Sophie Andrews’ stories is that she isn’t afraid to deal with sensitive issues. The characters have flaws, and they have to deal with trauma in their lives. They get their Happily Ever After but have to work for it first!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🏒💙ARC Review💙🏒
Thank you Sophie Andrews for the ARC of Elite Player, it is an honor being on your ARC team🫶
This book hit different than any other Sophie Andrews book, in a good way‼️I honestly did not except to be so swoony heart eyes obsessed with Nico, talk about character development and his back story, though we don’t get all the info till about the 75% mark, 😮💨 take a moment because that was heavy, but so perfect for his character‼️ if you didn’t know before, you knew then how much he truly loved Josephine because sharing his truth that he held onto for basically his entire life was WOW‼️
Josephine, from the moment we met her and the the losers that called themselves her family, I just wanted to hug her 🫶The way everything might have started between her and Nico might have been fake, but everything about these two was so real‼️ From the talks they had to, her sharing her hometown trauma and he all around truth, it was NEVER fake🥹
Sophie wrote such a beautiful, heart wrenching story of love, confidence, speaking your truth and finding your fated mate. I am just in awe of these characters and the way that Sophie wrote them and their struggles but also how they found their person in the arms of one another.
Tropes:
💙Fake Engagement
🏒Hockey Romance
💙Virgin FMC
🏒Golden Retriever x Black Cat
💙Reformed Playboy
🏒Opposites Attract
⚠️Check the Triggers⚠️
FMC dealt/dealing with bullying
FMC suicidal ideation
MMC sexually assaulted as a child
Thank you Sophie Andrews for the ARC of Elite Player, it is an honor being on your ARC team🫶
This book hit different than any other Sophie Andrews book, in a good way‼️I honestly did not except to be so swoony heart eyes obsessed with Nico, talk about character development and his back story, though we don’t get all the info till about the 75% mark, 😮💨 take a moment because that was heavy, but so perfect for his character‼️ if you didn’t know before, you knew then how much he truly loved Josephine because sharing his truth that he held onto for basically his entire life was WOW‼️
Josephine, from the moment we met her and the the losers that called themselves her family, I just wanted to hug her 🫶The way everything might have started between her and Nico might have been fake, but everything about these two was so real‼️ From the talks they had to, her sharing her hometown trauma and he all around truth, it was NEVER fake🥹
Sophie wrote such a beautiful, heart wrenching story of love, confidence, speaking your truth and finding your fated mate. I am just in awe of these characters and the way that Sophie wrote them and their struggles but also how they found their person in the arms of one another.
Tropes:
💙Fake Engagement
🏒Hockey Romance
💙Virgin FMC
🏒Golden Retriever x Black Cat
💙Reformed Playboy
🏒Opposites Attract
⚠️Check the Triggers⚠️
FMC dealt/dealing with bullying
FMC suicidal ideation
MMC sexually assaulted as a child
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a book I didn't expect much from (for no particular reason), but it absolutely blew me away. I devoured it in no time.
I can't describe how much my heart and stomach ached while reading about Jo's past, the ridicule she endured from the very people who were supposed to protect her and love her unconditionally. Seeing how deeply it affected her self-worth, her inability to love herself, her tendency to hide from others, and her constant attempts to become invisible was heartbreaking.
Nico is her complete opposite, and he is exactly what she needed. At first, I was annoyed by his rather straightforward approach to life, sex, and relationships in general. However, I absolutely loved the way he treated Jo. He was so supportive, genuine, and uncomplicated. I was incredibly happy for Jo because everyone deserves a Nico in their corner, but she especially does.
What I loved most of all was how realistically Jo's relationship with her family was handled. Years of ridicule didn't magically disappear, and it wasn't one of those stories where her parents suddenly "saw the light" and realized what they had done, nor did Jo forgive them overnight. In fact, her relationship with her family ended up exactly as realistically as one could expect after everything that had happened. It felt true to real life.
Without hesitation, I'm giving this book 5 stars and eagerly waiting for future releases! Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team—it was a pleasure.
I can't describe how much my heart and stomach ached while reading about Jo's past, the ridicule she endured from the very people who were supposed to protect her and love her unconditionally. Seeing how deeply it affected her self-worth, her inability to love herself, her tendency to hide from others, and her constant attempts to become invisible was heartbreaking.
Nico is her complete opposite, and he is exactly what she needed. At first, I was annoyed by his rather straightforward approach to life, sex, and relationships in general. However, I absolutely loved the way he treated Jo. He was so supportive, genuine, and uncomplicated. I was incredibly happy for Jo because everyone deserves a Nico in their corner, but she especially does.
What I loved most of all was how realistically Jo's relationship with her family was handled. Years of ridicule didn't magically disappear, and it wasn't one of those stories where her parents suddenly "saw the light" and realized what they had done, nor did Jo forgive them overnight. In fact, her relationship with her family ended up exactly as realistically as one could expect after everything that had happened. It felt true to real life.
Without hesitation, I'm giving this book 5 stars and eagerly waiting for future releases! Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team—it was a pleasure.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
4.5⭐|2🌶️|19%🌶️frequency
Many people say they don't incert themselves in the characters while they read. I'm the opposite. I definitely do it. And this time it was really easy for me. I just saw myself in Jo so many times. OK, I'm no photographer, and I definitely didn't have a fake engagement with a hockey player (not even a real engagement 🙈), but still, there is so much, especially her whole family dynamic. I felt her pain so much, I really didn't need to pretend anything 😞 Reading it made me so angry 😡 I'll never understand how parents can act like that against their own children.
I'm happy for Jo that she found someone who supported her. And Nico is perfect for this job. He has his own demons with his parents, but he's managed his life not too badly. Except for his playboy lifestyle 🙈 Yeah, that had to go!
He believes in fate and especially fated mates (that's his favorite trope). I hope now it's also fake engagement 😉 Because it was so wonderful to see how they became a real couple, but yeah, fate was a factor in it too 🩷
I really loved reading this book, and even though it's not directly connected with book 1, you will meet Camden and Nadine at some point again 🤩
Thanks to the author for trusting me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
4.5⭐|2🌶️|19%🌶️frequency
Many people say they don't incert themselves in the characters while they read. I'm the opposite. I definitely do it. And this time it was really easy for me. I just saw myself in Jo so many times. OK, I'm no photographer, and I definitely didn't have a fake engagement with a hockey player (not even a real engagement 🙈), but still, there is so much, especially her whole family dynamic. I felt her pain so much, I really didn't need to pretend anything 😞 Reading it made me so angry 😡 I'll never understand how parents can act like that against their own children.
I'm happy for Jo that she found someone who supported her. And Nico is perfect for this job. He has his own demons with his parents, but he's managed his life not too badly. Except for his playboy lifestyle 🙈 Yeah, that had to go!
He believes in fate and especially fated mates (that's his favorite trope). I hope now it's also fake engagement 😉 Because it was so wonderful to see how they became a real couple, but yeah, fate was a factor in it too 🩷
I really loved reading this book, and even though it's not directly connected with book 1, you will meet Camden and Nadine at some point again 🤩
Thanks to the author for trusting me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Summary✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25
HEA: Yes, 3rd act breakup
POV: Dual
Tropes: Hockey Romance, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Reformed Playboy, Fake Engagement, Virgin FMC, Cat Dad
Nico is a playboy hockey player who’s told by his team that he needs to clean up his image or risk being traded. Distracted by the pressure, he accidentally fires a puck that hits the team’s photographer, Jo, in the head and lands her in the hospital. Feeling terrible, he visits her as often as he can. When Jo’s overbearing family arrives and mistakes him for her fiancé, Nico goes along with the lie. After some thought, he realizes a fake engagement could help him with his image problem too. As their fake relationship continues, they grow closer while helping each other work through difficult parts of their pasts, and suddenly the relationship doesn’t feel so fake anymore.
Both Nico and Jo were complex characters whose past experiences shaped who they became. Nico was SA’d by his sister’s nanny as a teenager, and the trauma and fallout from that experience had a lasting impact on his life. Jo spent her entire life being criticized and belittled by her family. Even after moving away and beginning to come out of her shell, she struggled to fully break free from their influence.
One of my favorite parts of the book was watching Nico and Jo help each other heal. Their relationship felt supportive and genuine. Since neither had experienced a healthy romantic relationship before, many of those moments felt especially meaningful. Nico is an absolute nurturer. He was constantly doing little things to make Jo’s life easier, building up her confidence, and making sure she felt valued. It was incredibly sweet to read.
The spice was great too. Jo may have been inexperienced, but she knew she wanted Nico to be her first once their relationship deepened. Nico was patient, caring, and never rushed her. When they finally crossed that line together, it was definitely worth the wait.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I also have to mention that Nico might be one of the sweetest cat dads I’ve ever read. He was completely obsessed with that cat lol! It was also fun seeing characters from the previous book and getting a glimpse into their future.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you to Sophie Andrews for the opportunity to ARC read this book!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25
HEA: Yes, 3rd act breakup
POV: Dual
Tropes: Hockey Romance, Black Cat x Golden Retriever, Reformed Playboy, Fake Engagement, Virgin FMC, Cat Dad
Nico is a playboy hockey player who’s told by his team that he needs to clean up his image or risk being traded. Distracted by the pressure, he accidentally fires a puck that hits the team’s photographer, Jo, in the head and lands her in the hospital. Feeling terrible, he visits her as often as he can. When Jo’s overbearing family arrives and mistakes him for her fiancé, Nico goes along with the lie. After some thought, he realizes a fake engagement could help him with his image problem too. As their fake relationship continues, they grow closer while helping each other work through difficult parts of their pasts, and suddenly the relationship doesn’t feel so fake anymore.
Both Nico and Jo were complex characters whose past experiences shaped who they became. Nico was SA’d by his sister’s nanny as a teenager, and the trauma and fallout from that experience had a lasting impact on his life. Jo spent her entire life being criticized and belittled by her family. Even after moving away and beginning to come out of her shell, she struggled to fully break free from their influence.
One of my favorite parts of the book was watching Nico and Jo help each other heal. Their relationship felt supportive and genuine. Since neither had experienced a healthy romantic relationship before, many of those moments felt especially meaningful. Nico is an absolute nurturer. He was constantly doing little things to make Jo’s life easier, building up her confidence, and making sure she felt valued. It was incredibly sweet to read.
The spice was great too. Jo may have been inexperienced, but she knew she wanted Nico to be her first once their relationship deepened. Nico was patient, caring, and never rushed her. When they finally crossed that line together, it was definitely worth the wait.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I also have to mention that Nico might be one of the sweetest cat dads I’ve ever read. He was completely obsessed with that cat lol! It was also fun seeing characters from the previous book and getting a glimpse into their future.
I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you to Sophie Andrews for the opportunity to ARC read this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
We're back with book 2 in the Winning Love series, a stand alone in the world of different professional sports and a meddling babysitter to the bad boys of sport.
Nico Tremblay is the bad boy playboy for the Philadelphia Irons NHL team and he's been getting in trouble with his off ice antics. When he smashes the puck and it hits unsuspecting assistant photographer Jo, fate steps in to change their lives.
Jo wakes up in hospital surrounded by gifts from a guilty feeling Nico for knocking her out, but when her family arrive and start talking down to her, Nico steps in without hesitating - They pretend to be fake engaged, to help get Jo's family off her back and to help fix Nico's public image.
But who knew under that playboy persona, we'd find the ultimate golden retriever who is not the NHL player we all thought he was. At just 25 and barely any relationship experience, he knew exactly was he was doing with Jo, and I was all swoon! These two were absolutely beautiful together and I'm glad, with Nico's support, Jo was able to finally stand up for herself and let everyone else see the beauty that she was.
Another elite read from Sophie and this story could have gone on forever - I loved reading all of Nico's antics, he's such a sap!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own
Nico Tremblay is the bad boy playboy for the Philadelphia Irons NHL team and he's been getting in trouble with his off ice antics. When he smashes the puck and it hits unsuspecting assistant photographer Jo, fate steps in to change their lives.
Jo wakes up in hospital surrounded by gifts from a guilty feeling Nico for knocking her out, but when her family arrive and start talking down to her, Nico steps in without hesitating - They pretend to be fake engaged, to help get Jo's family off her back and to help fix Nico's public image.
But who knew under that playboy persona, we'd find the ultimate golden retriever who is not the NHL player we all thought he was. At just 25 and barely any relationship experience, he knew exactly was he was doing with Jo, and I was all swoon! These two were absolutely beautiful together and I'm glad, with Nico's support, Jo was able to finally stand up for herself and let everyone else see the beauty that she was.
Another elite read from Sophie and this story could have gone on forever - I loved reading all of Nico's antics, he's such a sap!
I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own
Review of advance copy
This was SUPER CUTE.
I particularly liked the easy flow of conversation in this book. The shift from something very simple to something very deep and serious was so good!
The FMC was shown as shy and it actually was so well written. All her reservations and flaws was clearly reflected.
It didn't felt like insta love but like they actually gotten to know each other over the time. I really really loved the shift of emotions, it felt all geniune.
And the way the author has touched some of the heavy topics in this sweet romance is mind blowing. The trauma, love, fear, flaws everything was so well blended.
So overall 3.4.
If you are into reformed playboy, shy girl, fake engagement then this is your book.
Thank you Luna Literary for the e-ARC of this lovely book
I particularly liked the easy flow of conversation in this book. The shift from something very simple to something very deep and serious was so good!
The FMC was shown as shy and it actually was so well written. All her reservations and flaws was clearly reflected.
It didn't felt like insta love but like they actually gotten to know each other over the time. I really really loved the shift of emotions, it felt all geniune.
And the way the author has touched some of the heavy topics in this sweet romance is mind blowing. The trauma, love, fear, flaws everything was so well blended.
So overall 3.4.
If you are into reformed playboy, shy girl, fake engagement then this is your book.
Thank you Luna Literary for the e-ARC of this lovely book
June 5, 2026
"Jo, I will always choose you."
Wow. I got way more emotional than I expected while reading this. Here the scoop..
F-boy hockey star, Nico, gets his last strike of acting out. He must change his public image or risk getting traded. In a serendipitous event he injures Josephine(a sports photographer) with a puck and bada-bing, bada-boom... a short, fun, whimsical love story starts.. But the author added in some trauma and self esteem issues for funsie.
Josephine's confidence issues were so realistic and heartbreaking. I love how Nico clocked the issue and jist did the swooniest things. I love how Jo held space for Nico when he finally spoke of his trauma. Those little parts really gave some depth and heart to this story.
This book has my favorite trope of 'teach me'. It made for some fun spicy scenes. The dressing room scene. Wow.
I loved the hockey guys and I wish this was a start of a hockey series I want more.
Overall, this was a fun, short, spicy story about finding yourself person and loving yourself.
I received this book as an ARC, but the review is completely independent and contains my own genuine thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
Wow. I got way more emotional than I expected while reading this. Here the scoop..
F-boy hockey star, Nico, gets his last strike of acting out. He must change his public image or risk getting traded. In a serendipitous event he injures Josephine(a sports photographer) with a puck and bada-bing, bada-boom... a short, fun, whimsical love story starts.. But the author added in some trauma and self esteem issues for funsie.
Josephine's confidence issues were so realistic and heartbreaking. I love how Nico clocked the issue and jist did the swooniest things. I love how Jo held space for Nico when he finally spoke of his trauma. Those little parts really gave some depth and heart to this story.
This book has my favorite trope of 'teach me'. It made for some fun spicy scenes. The dressing room scene. Wow.
I loved the hockey guys and I wish this was a start of a hockey series I want more.
Overall, this was a fun, short, spicy story about finding yourself person and loving yourself.
I received this book as an ARC, but the review is completely independent and contains my own genuine thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
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