The End Goal

Love, New York #1

by Lauren Penny

A star NHL player goes toe-to-toe with his team’s new data analyst over the right strategy to make the playoffs, but will their heated feud on the ice turn into something even steamier off it?

She's there to make the rules. He's determined to break them.

Bree Morgan, a fiery financial wiz, is out of her league. Yesterday, she’d never seen a hockey game; today, she’s the senior advisor for her boss's new acquisition, an NHL team based in Buffalo. Armed with analytics, she's guaranteed a position as the youngest partner ever at her competitive Wall Street firm if she gets the team to the playoffs.

There’s just one person standing in her Jake Paxton, the thirty-two-year-old, 6’4’’ hockey captain with a reputation larger than his stature. He’s been the star player for years, but with all eyes on his paycheck and his age (er, experience), Jake’s upcoming contract renewal isn’t a sure thing. He’ll do whatever it takes to win the championship and secure his spot on the roster . . . except listen to some Manhattan data analyst who only understands numbers, not the game.

When Bree and Jake are forced to work together, building frustration begins to feel dangerously like attraction. As sparks fly, the ice between them starts to melt. But with Bree returning to New York City soon, can they risk taking a shot on love, or is their budding romance doomed to end with the season?

Genres: Romance, Hockey, Contemporary, Sports, Sports Romance

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Lauren Penny graduated from NYU with degrees in English, journalism, and dramatic literature. After working in magazine publishing, she earned her MBA and is now on the corporate side of the media business. When she’s not working or thinking up the next toe-curling comment for a bad boy team captain to whisper, she’s volunteering at adoption events for a local dog rescue, learning new languages, or making pasta. She lives in New York City (her true love) with her husband and latest foster pup.

Reviews

[BookishKB]

🏒💼 The End Goal 💼🏒

It dragged quite a bit towards the end but I did enjoy the first 50-60% alot!
3 Star read!

✨ What to Expect
• Hockey romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: October 13, 2026
📝 Thank you to Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Amy Drelick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thrilled to have been able to read an advanced copy of The End Goal. Lauren writes a funny, witty (funny AND witty!) group of independent and badass FMC friends. It is SO refreshing to read a romance novel where the leading lady doesn’t just fall into his world and friends but he folds into hers making it fuller and more colorful. This is an excellent enemies to lovers entry into romance and I am on my knees BEGGING for book 2 to be Celine’s.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy by NetGalley

I love a good hockey romance and this did not disappoint. Bree was definitely giving off black cat vibes. I loved her feisty character. It balanced well with her love interest Jake. I am a sucker for a workplace romance and the addition of this also being a hockey romance made it so much better. The banter and witty comebacks between Jake and Bree was laced with romantic tension. This was a cute hockey romance.

[Kylie Beltran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc of the End Goal by Lauren Penny!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a slow start for me. Hockey romance/enemies to lovers is my favorite trope so was very excited about this book. I wouldn’t say it was the best ever but was really good. At about 40 percent was when I really felt invested in the story and what was going to happen. The chemistry was great but I could always use more banter. The spice level was light to medium, so good for readers who are in the middle.

Recommend 4/5

[Keles Wyntor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.

This story was fantastic! I loved the passion and tension Jake and Briana had from the beginning. I really liked that her position was in analytics. I thought her background and story was so well thought out out and was much more interesting than just someone working for the team in PR or Social media. I thought Briana was very funny and very relatable. As a fellow drink gremlin I loved her character. The way they were falling for each other and fighting it the whole way was also very on par with a high stakes coworker relationship. While there was a third act break up, the resolution was so so good. I loved how it all came together in the end! A great love story and a fantastic hockey romance to add to my collection hehe.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The End Goal was an entertaining read. The characters were likeable and you couldn’t help but root for Bree and Jake throughout the story. I really liked how independent and smart Bree’s character was.

A great read for sports romance fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was...frustrating. I wanted to love it, I really did (hockey romance? set in Buffalo? Yes, please!), but I just couldn't. First of all, did the author do an iota of research into Buffalo before sending her heroine there? She complains in mid-August that she's the only person in the local coffee shop who isn't in a flannel shirt and knit beanie. In AUGUST. Buffalonians wear flip flops and shorts in February if we get a random 50-degree day, no one's wearing a beanie yet in August. At the first hockey game? She's got the hero hanging out around the boards, making eyes at the heroine until it's time for the opening face-off--what happened to singing the anthems? That happens in between those 2 events in any hockey game. (And yes, the plural there was on purpose. In Buffalo we sing the U.S. and Canadian anthems, regardless of who Buffalo is playing.) NHL hockey arenas do indeed sell wine, not just in a can. Not everyone who goes to hockey games is decked out in home team colors--some wear the visiting team's, plenty of others dress up or just wear whatever; Bree wouldn't stick out as much as she said she did. And how is it that she was the only "staff" sitting in the "staff seating???" Or did she just ignore her coworkers to talk to the rando sitting behind her all night?

The pacing was a bit all over the place--time passes, we go from holiday to holiday in the fall/winter, but not a lot actually happens in the story itself for big chunks of time, including many hockey games--it's like the author forgets that they're supposed to be playing them, unless she needs one for plot reasons. The heroine is tight with her friend group back in NYC, which she should be, but I honestly couldn't keep them straight for the life of me. They barely had any distinguishing characteristics beyond their names and what they were wearing at any given time. (The hero's BFFs were done much better, at least, so there's that. Gives me hope.)

Heroine bought chocolate cereal during her pre-storm shopping trip. Accurate! But the next morning she didn't have milk for the hero's coffee? How was she planning to eat her cereal?

Don't get me started on the miscommunication/breakup between Bree and Jake--not my favorite plot device at the best of times, but here it was particularly bad, considering they were supposed to be grown-ass adults. JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER.

They do make up for that later, so there's that. But did we really need weeks of wallowing in between? They could have been moving forward with their relationship while dealing with the other disaster that happened at the same time and saved Bree's stomach from all the post-breakup lactose ingestion.

The ending was cute, which bodes well for the author's future books. And another plus, the rest of the series looks to be in NYC, so at least the author will probably be more location-accurate going forward...

Honestly, if there'd just been a bit more attention to detail here, I would've given it another star at least. I so wanted to love it!

Rating: 3 stars / C+

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The End Goal • Lauren Penny
Love, New York #1

One phrase: hockey captain meets Wall Street chaos 🏒📊

I am so thrilled I got to read an advanced copy of The End Goal.

A star NHL player and his team’s new data analyst going head to head over how to make the playoffs?

Yes. Absolutely.

Bree Morgan is a fiery financial wiz who suddenly finds herself advising her boss’s newly acquired NHL team in Buffalo. Yesterday she had never seen a hockey game. Today, she is responsible for helping get the team to the playoffs, and if she pulls it off, she could become the youngest partner at her Wall Street firm.

No pressure.

Then there is Jake Paxton, the team captain, star player, and very large problem standing directly in her way. He knows the game. She knows the numbers. He thinks she does not understand hockey. She thinks he needs to stop fighting strategy just because it came from a Manhattan data analyst.

Naturally, sparks fly.

This was such a fun enemies to lovers sports romance. The tension between Bree and Jake had that perfect mix of frustration, attraction, competition, and “please just kiss already” energy.

But what I loved most was Bree.

Lauren Penny writes funny, witty, independent, badass FMC friendships so well. It was so refreshing to read a romance where the leading lady does not simply fall into his world, his team, and his people. Instead, he folds into hers, making her life fuller and more colorful without taking it over.

That dynamic felt so good.

The hockey setting was fun, the banter was sharp, and the romance had all the heat and heart I want from a sports romance. Bree and Jake both have something to prove, and watching them clash, soften, and slowly start seeing each other beyond the roles they were playing was so satisfying.

Also, I am already on my knees begging for book two to be Celine’s.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
🏒 hockey romance
📊 data analyst FMC
🔥 enemies to lovers
💼 Wall Street heroine
👑 NHL captain MMC
💬 sharp banter
🥵 workplace tension
🧊 forced teamwork
💕 opposites attract
👯 badass FMC friend group
🏙 New York energy
✨ he folds into her world

📚 Read this if you like:
Sports romance, hockey captains, smart and ambitious heroines, enemies to lovers tension, analytics versus instinct, strong female friendships, workplace proximity, and romances where he becomes part of her world too.

This was witty, fun, steamy, and such a strong start to a series I already need more from.

#TheEndGoal #LaurenPenny #HockeyRomance #SportsRomance #BookReview @Ballentine

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded down, was a 4/5 until the last 10/20%.

I guess I'll start with the first 80/90% that I actually liked a lot. I LOVED Bree's character. As a fellow math girly, I love seeing a strong, career-driven FMC in a field that's extremely male-dominated. And I love how she wasn't backing down on her career-drivenness, her standing up for the use of stats in the game, once she and Jake got closer. Jake... I'm not going to lie, I really disliked him at the beginning. He just read like a stereotypical himbo tool jock, and the way he kept pestering Bree even though he knew how it would impact the career she cared so much about made me... grossed out. However, he grew on me quite a bit, and while I can't say I loved him, it was sweet to see how much he loved Bree. Bonus points for him realizing that stats has its place in sports.

The last 20%. Gosh this book went cliff-diving in the last 20%. Nothing makes me madder than an otherwise strong book having a shitty ending.

Here's the thing: There's a difference between being strong and independent and being stubborn and feeling as if you're always in the right. I feel like so many romance authors who want a strong FMC turn out to write one who comes off as just awful. You can be strong AND STILL SEE WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WRONG AND SHOULD APOLOGIZE.

That fight they had in the end where he got mad about what she said, and she got mad about him possibly going to another team, flipped my opinion of Bree a complete 180. I was thinking to myself that if she apologized to him about it, she'd be fine, but even at the end, they basically never talked about it and he was the only one to apologize to her.

Frankly, I don't even see what he did wrong: she accused him of lying to her. Bro how??? He never indicated he would actually sign the contract, and why was your first instinct not to ask him about it rather than flip it??? Are you 13??? You're a grown ass adult, figure out emotional regulation ffs. And is it not hypocritical to get mad at him when you yourself weren't even planning on staying??? What, he puts his life and career on hold, while you get to keep growing??? That's just selfish.

Also. Is it not a fact that you called him hard to work with in front of his boss? "Oh but I said that before I actually knew you." OKAY THEN APOLOGIZE TO HIM ABOUT IT??? Whether or not you meant to, you gave him a really career-ending blow with that statement. Who wants a team captain that's hard to work with??? Like it genuinely sent me over the edge that she never once said "I'm sorry for saying that about you".

Beyond that, the ending just seemed so rushed and cliche. It's like the publisher was like "bro your book is getting too long" so Penny was just like "well okay then. Let me just write the ending without changing anything before to help flow." Like when she called the dude and saved The Big Game, and then that rich lady called and was like "oh let me invest in you!" I rolled my eyes so hard. What a fairytale ending (/neg).

Overall, it was a great book for the majority, but I hated the ending so bad. And honestly, I feel like that trumped the other 80%. Like who cares if you've written this strong, great book if it ends on such a weak note? Just what a shame. I was obsessed with Bree's character for so long, just for her to turn out like... that.

No notes on the writing. I really liked it overall, and laughed a ton haha. The story about the M&Ms actually had me wheezing. I don't read interconnected standalones so probably won't pick up any other books in the series, but I'll probably check out some of the author's other books, especially if they have FMCs like first-80% Bree.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR Edit: I thought about it some more, and basically, I wasn't convinced Bree was in love with him. For me, it felt like she just liked sex with him... yeah they went through the motions: "I have feelings for you", "I love you", "I choose you", "Be with me", "Let's get married", but none of her actions reflected that (classical telling not showing). I give these two until the MMC's contract with the NYC team expires, because god forbid they trade him to another city.

[Kari Bunce (Books With Herb) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Solid Entry for Hockey Romance Fans

I have read a lot of hockey romance books—some have been so good they’ve made me wonder if I should be watching more hockey, and some have not managed to hold my interest until the end. This book, The End Goal, falls somewhere in between.

The Story:
It features Jake, an aging hockey star and team captain, and Bree, an "analytics and data queen." Bree moves to Buffalo to provide statistical insight into how Jake's NHL team can win more games. At first, he is resentful and difficult, but as time passes, they begin to find a mutual respect for one another. Of course, there is a "no-fraternization" policy at the company, so they have to sneak around to explore their connection.

My Take:
The first 70% of the book is entertaining and full of great angst and tension. However, as I’ve found with some other romance titles, it begins to drag a bit toward the end. I truly appreciated that the author had a deep understanding of both hockey and statistics; it made the world feel grounded and real. If you enjoy sports romance, this is definitely worth a try!

3.5 bones from Herb and me. 🦴🦴🦴½

Special thanks to Ballantine, Dell, and Lauren Penny for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[ReadingMomma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

The End Goal was such a cozy, slow-burn sports romance that completely won me over.

Bree is thrown into a male-dominated world when she’s relocated to work as a data analyst for an NHL team—and let’s just say, not everyone is welcoming. Especially Jake, the team captain, who’s already under pressure in the final year of his contract and fighting to stay with the team.

From the moment they meet, there’s tension. Miscommunication, clashing personalities, and a whole lot of stubbornness on both sides.

But as Jake starts helping Bree understand the game of hockey, that tension slowly shifts into something more… and when they finally cross that line? There’s no going back.

Jake was patient, supportive, and genuinely sweet, even when Bree made it very hard to be. Watching their relationship grow from friction to something real was so satisfying.

If you love:

slow burn
opposites attract
sports romance with heart
strong (but imperfect) FMCs

this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to Lauren Penny and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Will also post review on Amazon when release date gets closer.

[Jenn Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of hockey romance, and one thing I really appreciated about The End Goal by Lauren Penny was that hockey actually felt like an important part of the story instead of just background decoration.

This book hits so many favorite romance tropes — enemies to lovers, forced proximity, a modified “one bed” situation thanks to a Buffalo snowstorm, the tight-knit girl group of best friends — but somehow it never felt overly tropey or predictable. The writing flowed really well, and I especially loved the dual POV chapters. Jake’s perspective chapters were definitely my favorite.

The pacing felt slightly uneven for me. It started a little slow without fully leaning into a long yearning build-up, and then the emotional shift between Bree and Jake happened a bit quickly. Bree goes from truly hating him to suddenly… not, and I wanted just a little more development there.

That said, the ending delivered a satisfying HEA with a fun little plot twist toward the end that I didn’t see coming.

Review complete due to advanced copy provided by NetGalley.

Spice Level:🌶️🌶️
Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jineth Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley, and I’m so glad I did because I truly enjoyed this book. The writing flows so effortlessly that from chapter one, I was completely hooked.I ended up finishing it in a single day.

As a girls’ girl, I loved seeing a strong, confident, and intelligent FMC thriving in a role society often labels as “male-dominated.” Her character was refreshing and empowering. While her relationship with Jake started off a bit rocky, it was so satisfying to watch her slowly let her guard down and allow herself to be loved.

Jake is an absolute sweetheart, and their dynamic really highlights how the plans we make for ourselves don’t always compare to what life has in store. Sometimes, what we think we want isn’t what we truly need..and this story captured that beautifully.

If you love forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and a “he falls first” trope, this one is definitely for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m already looking forward to book two and getting more of the friend group’s love stories.

[Melissa Pepin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this one! Bree is such a baddie...and although things didnt exactly get off on the right foot with Jake...I LOVED the way it ended.

Bree is a financial wizard and she is trying to secure a spot as partner in her current firm but the only way for her to do that is to take an assignment with an NHL team by running stats for the team and helping them get to the playoffs. She gets pressured into working with the team Captain, Jake, by her slimy boss (the president of the firms son), and what starts off as rivalry ends in romance. Jake is protective and Bree WANTS him to win. The tension was palpable and the story they write together allowed them to heal way more than just broken friendships...but they were able to help each other be the best versions of themselves together. Loved it!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: I love romance and I love hockey so this was a no brainer.

Bree is a high power finance wizard trying to make partner. When her boss picks her to analyze and "fix" the new professional hockey team he bought in Buffalo she agrees. If she's successful she makes partner.
The trouble is some of the team doesn't think a woman who crunches numbers will be any help. The team captain Jake Paxton doesn't want any help and has zero time for Bree and her ideas.
Except it's a rom com and enemies to lovers is a fab trope. I like the dual point of view. We always know how each MC is feeling. And Jake's devotion to Bree is over the top romantic. Even in the third act obligatory break up. Two thumbs up!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Briana es muy buena en su trabajo y tiene claro que su vida va por un camino bastante ordenado, aunque no necesariamente feliz. Todo cambia cuando la mandan a trabajar con un equipo de hockey en otra ciudad, algo que no tiene nada que ver con lo que ella conoce. Ahí conoce a Jake, el capitán del equipo, alguien que parece ser todo lo contrario a ella y que desde el inicio logra sacarla de quicio. Lo que empieza con choques y comentarios incómodos poco a poco se vuelve algo más difícil de ignorar. Mientras intenta mantenerse profesional y no arruinar su carrera, Briana también tiene que lidiar con lo que siente, con su pasado y con un ambiente donde no todos juegan limpio.


Gracias NetGalley y al publicista por el ARC.

[Taylor Doran]

The things I liked about this book: I enjoyed the banter and lighthearted tone. Some of the inner monologue and banter had me giggling. I also liked the enemies to lovers dynamic with him being a hockey player and she works for the team as a data analyst. They have very different ideas of how to make the team succeed.

However, I like more of a slow burn and once it got spicy several times halfway through the book, I lost interest. They had to stay apart because of their jobs, but that sure didn't stop them, which made it really unrealistic with their characters, who seem more mature and care about their jobs too much for that.

Overall, I would suggest this book for someone who is interested in a spicy sports romance with fun banter and a little cheesiness.

[Kasey Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I love a man hating fmc. I can always trust enemies to lovers books to give me a woman with a backbone. Workplace hidden relationships do tend to give me hives however, they were mostly well behaved in the office unlike some other workplace romances I’ve read and I respect that. That man was incredibly down bad as he should be, as all men should be, and I appreciated that he was very aware of it the entire time. Big fan of Bree’s friends that I know will all be getting their own books based on the epilogue so I’ll be on the lookout for those. Only qualm I really had was the few fights they had were a bit over dramatic and didn’t seem like necessary conflict more so just a plot device.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy!

[Fabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this expecting it to be super cheesy, but it completely surprised me. The forbidden romance was done really well, and the chemistry between the main characters felt natural from the start. Their banter was easily one of the best parts of the book—funny, flirty, and effortless without feeling forced.

The hockey element added to the story without taking over, and the romance developed at a believable pace. Instead of relying on over-the-top drama, the relationship was built through great dialogue and genuine tension, which made it even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a hockey romance with strong chemistry, entertaining banter, and a forbidden romance that doesn't lean too hard into the clichés, this is definitely worth picking up.

[she’s a reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The End Goal by Lauren Penny. The tension in the first three-quarters of the book had my attention, and a plus was that all the terminology for both characters careers seemed to be accurate but also understandable. The tension dropped off near the ending and seemed to slow down a bit, but it did not cause me to lose interest. It was an easy read, sometimes it was as if you knew what was coming but still a light, romantic read. If you are always eager to read a hockey romance, this one is worth a read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had such a fun addictive vibe and I actually laughed out loud at some of the feisty little digs between the characters. It was also layered with family dynamics and emotional moments in a way that felt really balanced and real. This is a great enemies-to-lovers story and it delivers in the best way. The tension, back and forth and the little jabs made it so fun to read. I especially loved the strong, independent FMC. She had such a confident grounded presence that made her feel real and easy to root for. If you're looking for something fun, a little emotional and full of personality with a great enemies-to lovers trope, this is definitely worth the read.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bree wants to make partner, so she jumps at a new opportunity. Analytics is analytics, right? Whether it's for a Wall Street firm or an NHL team. She just needs to find a way to work with team captain Jake.

Read if you like:
-Workplace Romance
-Rivals to Lovers
-Secret Relationship

Workplace rivals to lovers is such a good trope, particularly when it's between a facts-driven FMC and feelings-driven MMC. The clash between data and heart was so good, but their chemistry when they finally started getting along was even better. I also loved Bree's friend group and I'm excited for the next book in the series.

[Rebekah Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book provided as an ARC from Net Galley. The book was a cute hockey romance by a debut author. The main characters had good banter. The plot was interesting and not overdone. There was a very late third act break up with little time left in the book after with the exception of the epilogue. Overall enjoyable

[Lindsay Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few sports romances over the past year and this book was a solid entry into the running.

There was plenty of tension and banter thru the first half of the book. Bree is very rigid and structured in her life and being around Jake throws a wrench into her life. You couldn’t help but root for these two to finally get together.

It’s an easy light read. 4 ⭐️

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are both likable and engaging, making for a truly pleasant reading experience. The narrative is structured in a way that perfectly sets the stage for a potential series focusing on the supporting cast. I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a charming, easy-to-devour weekend read.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of Hockey romances books and this one is up there with my favorites. The writing is incredible. The banter between the main characters had me literally laughing out loud. This story had me hooked from the beginning. I love the amount of hockey in this hockey romance! It made it feel different from others I’ve read before. I am so excited after reading the epilogue to get the vibe this will be a multi book series. I cannot wait to read more from this Author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lauren for this ARC!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really fun and well written romance comedy, i wasn’t able to put it down! can’t wait for the next book in the series

thank you netgalley and dell for the advanced copy!

[Mia Grichendler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giggling kicking feet

[Becca T]

This was a fun and spicy hockey romance!! I’ll share my full review closer to the publication date!