Puck Around and Find Out

by Samantha Barrett

One night.
Three lives lost.
Memories, poof, gone.

Everyone blames me—his friends, my best friend—all gone. I can’t remember what happened, but Xaden Devlin does.
He’s the devil wrapped in a beautiful package.
I'm a moth to his flame.
And he’s made it his mission to destroy me.
He’s the heir to the most feared family in town—cold, cruel, and carved from vengeance.
He calls me Tink, a cruel reminder that
“Fairies die when no one believes in them anymore.”
The more he taunts me, the more I see the truth in his eyes…
The truth about that night.
The truth about my family.
And most of all the truth about us.
Maybe the devil isn’t the monster after all.
Maybe I am.

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Dark, Hockey Romance, Mafia Romance, Forced Proximity

300 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2026

About the author

Samantha Barrett is originally from Auckland, New Zealand but living in Brisbane, Australia.

Sam writes all things dirty dark and delicious with a side of twisted mind fu*k.

She is a lover of all things red flags and an anti-hero is a must.

Reviews

[Scarlett Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still recovering from this one. Dark, intense, and completely addictive from the first few chapters. The blend of hockey, mafia tension, and sharp character dynamics made it impossible to put down.

The characters are messy in the best way. They’re flawed, volatile, and magnetic. The chemistry is charged, the emotional stakes are sky high, and the story doesn’t pull any punches.

And that ending… I’m not okay. I need the next book immediately.

[Ryn Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not okay. I have not been okay since page THREE.

PUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT by Samantha Barrett grabbed me by the throat from the getgo and whispered “good luck” before absolutely ruining my life. If you want hockey + dark romance + bullying + mafia chaos + emotional trauma with a side of what the actual f*ck, congratulations, this is your new personality.

I binge-read 0–54% like a possessed demon, only stopped because it was 1am and my body had the audacity to require sleep. Day two? I resented my job. My partner and people. Deeply. How DARE all that interrupt this emotional hostage situation.

Let’s talk characters.

XADEN.
An alpha arsehole of the highest order. Violent. Cold. Calculated. A literal serial killer and yes, we know early, so don’t clutch your pearls. I love an alpha a-hole and this man understood the assignment with terrifying precision. Red flags? He IS the flag. 🚩 And I ate it up.

TOREN.
Lost. Bruised. Just trying to survive while the universe keeps body-slamming her into concrete. And honestly? Relatable. Haven’t we all had a season where life just keeps saying “again”? Watching her arc moment, watching her finally snap into screw this, fighting back even when she had nothing behind her… chef’s kiss. That growth hit me right in the ribs.

This story is dark, chaotic, gripping, and emotionally feral. It’s a “just one more chapter” lie that ruins your sleep schedule. And that ending?
SAM.
SAMANTHA.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

A “happy for now” HA!!! that left me screaming into the void, pacing my house, demanding book two like a feral raccoon shaking a vending machine. I am left wanting. Needing. Dramatically staring at the ceiling whispering what the fck

Also yes, hockey romance lovers, we WIN. The hockey element was fun, sharp, and added just the right edge to the darkness. Mafia vibes + hockey vibes + dark romance vibes all colliding like a beautiful car crash I could not look away from.

Hands down, if you want dark mafia hockey chaos that consumes your soul, this is the book. Samantha Barrett, you’ve done it again and I will not forgive you until book two is in my hands. 🏒🖤🔥

I am done. I am unwell. I would reread immediately.

[Tyla Oakey · Rating 5 out of 5]

MIND. BLOWN. Best ARC I’ve ever read.
14th February, this is an absolute must!!!
This gave me everything I’ve been chasing since the edge of darkness trilogy 👀
This book was absolutely incredible. It literally sucked me in and took over my life from the very beginning.
Hockey, dark romance, a walking red flag MMC, bully romance, mafia, emotional trauma? Absolute rollercoaster I want to re read it already 😭😭😭😭
Xaden, the most crazy unhinged morally black man. So aggressive & it’s pure delicious to read 😂
Toren, what a powerhouse the way he survives everything & comes through it all.
That cliffhanger has had me close to tears 😭😭😭
I need book 2 like I need air. No release date yet? Killing me!!!

I’m sorry but these quotes. Absolute chefs kiss. I’m not well.

““My mouth twitches into a smile. “We’re going to declare her off limits to everyone. We are going to take our time with destroying the crowned princess and make sure her brother sees everything. I want her reputation ruined, her life destroyed and her heart and mind fucking shattered.”

“I’m coming for you and Kellar. Be ready because I plan to make it hurt on and off the ice.”

“I want to peel the fucking flesh from your bones. I want to hold your heart in my hand as it beats for the last time. I want to tear your fucking eyes out with a spoon and look through them so I can look out at the world with rose colored glasses like you.”

“Try and run and you will learn what disobeying me costs.”

“I'm nothing but a passenger in this world of darkness that I am being forced to live in.”

“He’s the definition of evil. He radiates darkness like a super power, he doesn’t hide from it. He embraces the call of death and embodies it like it's his armor. He’s the devil in the flesh, yet I’m a moth to his flame, sucked into his orbit, unable to stay away from the misery and pain he offers me daily. I cling to it because it's what I deserve.”

“Try and take her from me and see what happens,”
🫠🤭🫣😬🫨🤯☠️🖤

[Emily Ellig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you HambrightPR for a copy of this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
Blurb: One night. Three lives lost. All her memories gone.
Toren wakes up in a facility with no memory about what happened that night. But Xaden Devlin knows and he has made it his mission to destroy her. With her friends gone and her family against her, she has no one. Except the devil, who may not be such a monster after all.

I could not put this one down! I loved everything about it. This was fast paced and had so many moving parts to it. I absolutely need another book. I don't think I have ever been so unsettled and upset about the ending to a book.

-Mafia
-College Setting
-Hockey
-Dual POV
-True enemies to....?
-Forced Proximity
-Serial killer
-Revenge plot
-Morally black MMC

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★.5

I knew it was a dark hockey romance, but there was something so much darker about it and it was that mafia aspect. I am OBSESSED. I felt so bad for Toren. She really deserved better than the cards she was dealt.

The MMC is UNHINGED, and I loved him sm. The enemies to lovers was done so well, and I love the way this book was written. It kept me wanting more, and I could not put this book down. I knew from ~30 pages in that I was going to devour this book, and it did not disappoint.

I NEEEEEEED book 2 ASAP. I cannot wait to see where we go bc that ending?!?!?! W T F.

[Kendra Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5 🌶️2.8


MY FLABBERS HAVE BEEN GASTED.
I HAVE BEEN HOODWINKED, BAMBOOZLED AND LED ASTRAY, BUT ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN; I LOVE A MORALLY GREY/ PITCH BLACK MMC🫠

From the beginning I was hooked! I never once believed Toren did that and if she did nothing was as it seemed. The plot twist had my jaw on the floor alongside that cliffhanger like whew wtf was that ending😩🙃. I need book two like right tf now.

[Inês Gomes · Rating 1 out of 5]

✨Arc Review✨
Not every book is for everyone and unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and the story didn’t make sense for me. It’s supposed to be a dark romance book but there’s literally no romance in this. The mmc is horrible to her the entire book and she just takes it because he’s the only one who talks to her, even if it’s just to treat her badly, doesn’t make sense to me. I’d still liked to that Hambright and the author for the opportunity to receive this arc.

[Brooke Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yooooo! This is so good! And that cliff hanger had me gagging!! Thank god for #HambrightPR and #SamanthaBarrett for the ARC! 🖤🖤🖤
This is giving dark, dark, darkness!
Bringing bully vibes mixed with mafia badness and on top of that crazy hockey players beating the shit out of each other.
This isn’t enemies to lovers, this is enemies to enemies that kind of hate fuck each other, and I’m down to clown!
It’s like all my favourite tropes had a dirty, dirty baby 😂
There’s banter, and there is fucking spice 🔥🔥🔥
I need the second book right now because what the actual fuck was that, I had a full blown crisis trying to accept that ending!
Also, I desperately need a book just on Caspian alone.
Samantha you have gained yourself a steadfast fan!
And I’m here for everything you publish!

[Kelsey H · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 30%

I really wanted to like this. The premise had everything I love -- revenge, mafia MMC, enemies to lovers. But the execution just didn’t deliver, unfortunately :/

The big reveal for what happened on the mystery night had a disappointing delivery, given the trauma and severity of the situation. And then there's Xaden, who I didn't really consider to be all that compelling -- just an angry, entitled boy with a weird obsession with collecting the lips of his victims (which I just found to be gross and unnecessarily mentioned repeatedly). Toren, the FMC, also fell flat for me, and I felt like I couldn't quite get a handle on Caspian's character.

As for the book itself, the writing and editing needed another pass; repetition and mechanical errors pulled me out of the story often

There’s an interesting concept here, but it wasn’t executed strongly enough for me to stay invested

Thank you to Hambright PR for the opportunity to read this ARC 💕

[Becky P · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Read

First I would like to say thank you to Samantha Barrett and Hambright PR for sending me this ARC!

NOW LET'S GET INTO IT! This book was so damn good! I thought I knew what the plot twist was but it was so much more than that! Xaden and Toren's story had me reeling from the start! I love these characters and somehow through all the craziness and toxicity I was still rooting for them! This was a mafia romance i didn't know I needed! That cliffhanger had me gasping! I am not ok after this! I need book 2 and I will be waiting for it with bated breath!

[Nyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolute insanity, and I could not put it down!
Hockey was very much an afterthought in the storytelling, but it wasn't really what I came here for anyways.
I found myself guessing at every moment at our FMC's safety, keeping me constantly on the edge of my seat.

Demented. I loved it.
Book 2 when?

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4.25 for me. This was fun to read and had an interesting mystery attached to it of what really happened that night and I truly didn't figure out until the end, and it ends on a cliffhanger I did not see coming. Those last couple chapters hit really hard.

From the first moment your heart breaks for Toren who has lost everything and she truly doesn't know why (she woke up in the hospital with amnesia of not just that night but the week of the incident) because not only has every single person around her abandoned her but even those with limited contact with her refuse to tell her anything. That plus the incident has caused such an uproar that the whole country knows about it, memes were made and even some have used her name as like oh don't Toren. So along with not having the slightest clue as to why it all happened, she has literal strangers coming up to her calling her a murderer. You would think that would be it but on top of that is a man who is her brother's nemesis/enemy who is so charismatic she can't stay away from him even if his attention is not the good kind. I mean the guy straight up told her that he calls her Tink bc he thinks of her as Tink and Faries die when people stop believing in them.

Her story is dark, depressing and heartbreaking and with everything she is going through it makes sense how she can't stay away from Xaden even though she knows that he is out to destroy her and her family using her to do it. The same family who abandoned her and won't tell her why.

While I enjoyed the dark and grittiness of the story there are some parts you will have just go along with or at least I did personally. 1 being while she has a reason to not having a phone/laptop, and apparently the libraries at this school don't have shared computers anymore but I find it hard to believe that if she was really that curious about what was going on she couldn't have found some way to get on the internet. Even asking her tutor if she could borrow his phone for 5 min especially when they came to their agreement. The other thing is while I completely agree drunk driving is a serious offense and the hatred of her affected community is also completely understandable but I find it hard to believe a drunk driving incident like hers would have made the impact that it made to where she became a meme and her name is now used as a saying like going Toren. Her father's political standing also didn't happen until after her being sent away so it's not like it was due to some political standing or dynasty to have that impact. I honestly thought with her being sent to a psych facility and the visceral reaction some people had just at the sight of her along with the memory loss that it was something completely different. So, I was glad for the misdirection I was also like oh that's what happened and it felt also a little anti climatic. Again, drunk driving is a serious offense but to have people on the other side of the country hating you to such a degree when sadly drunk driving is not an uncommon occurrence seemed a bit extreme. But maybe I am just too desensitized.

This is a dark story that will pull you in with an FMC who breaks your heart and an MMC who is more than happy to break the FMC to get his revenge all while having this dark chemistry that they can't stay away from one another, and you can't look away from. There is also the extra added element of this being rival mafia families so along with all the issues Toren has going on there is also issues going on with the Mafia families which has her at the center of it. The next book will be a doozy I am sure to wrap up all these points.

----

This book is about Toren who suffered a tragedy that she can't remember but has caused not just everyone she knows and loves to hate her and abandoned her but has also turned her into a meme and even has people she never met hating her and calling her a murderer and monster. When she woke up with no memory of not just the night but the week it happened, she thought she would have her friends and family around to help her but instead they stuck her in a psychiatric facility for a year with no explanation and when she was finally let out and allowed home she thought now would be the time they would come together and someone would finally tell her what happened. But instead, her family drop her off with little word at college and told to behavior or else she would be sent back to the facility. Lost and confused she is just trying to make it through the day and not cause trouble, but when she has literal people coming up to get calling her a murder it can be overwhelming. So, when the man her brother always warned her about, Xaden crosses her path promising to destroy her and her family she knows she should stay away but she can't help being drawn to this devil incarnate who has the power to burn her alive. He’s the heir to the most feared family in town and his eyes promise vengeance for the harm I have caused him all while he calls me Tink. A cruel reminder that “Fairies die when no one believes in them anymore.” The more he taunts her the more she starts to see that perhaps everyone is right and she is the monster that they all think her to be.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystal R Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐ 3🌶️

Toren kind of had it all until that night, the night she can't remember. After waking up in hospital with a week of memory gone then being sent away for a year it's finally time for her to go to college. Her dad however drops her off to fend for herself having her enrolled into the college from the other side of town where everyone hates her brother and her. No friends nearby, no phone and still no damn answers about that night Toren is ready to break.
Xaden has become darkness, that night a year ago people were taken from him and now as he seeks revenge his stepped fully into the family business, the mafia. When the cause of all his problems comes stepping into his domain it would be absolutely stupid if him not to torment her until a death by his hand.

This book was amazing, intense, complex, mysterious and dark. I was absolutely hooked to every moment and every word. Samantha has build these characters up wonderfully just so we got the please of watching them unravel and break. There is some spice but it's not sweet or tender, it's raw and wicked. Do not let the punny hockey title fool you, while there is definitely some hockey involved and flashes of humour (of the dark kind) this book is not the be taken as a standard hockey romance. The ending of this book absolutely blew my mind but it's not final ending so safe to say I'll be lining up for the second book

Dark, hot, and twisted this book will have its claws into so fast. I definitely recommend this book but be warned that there are quite a lot of very heavy and/or gruesome elements so definitely check out the triggers before jumping in.

[Makayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

This started out really great for me, I still think the plot had really great potential, and book two may even blow me away. But I gotta say..

I've NEVER had an issue with foul language, my favorite word is fuck. But this was way over the top with it. It just got to a point it was so unnecessary and every sentence from the mmc involved "fuck" or "cunt" Sometimes multiple times in the same sentence. & a lot of the time the way it was worded didn't even flow well so it kept pulling me out of the story because I was saying the line over and over trying to get it to sound right. my eye started twitching at a certain point. 😅 to give specifics, the variation of the word "fuck, fucking, fucker," is used 738 times in a 290 page book. "cunt" was used 67. again it's not even that I have an issue with cussing, it just got really repetitive and I just wanted to scream can't we come up with better insults already?

I also expected this to involve a lot more of the hockey aspect, there was lots of talk about it sure. But there was only one game, and it was at the end so that was kind of a let down. I think trying to mesh all the mafia details, the fmc's short term memory loss, and the hockey just didn't clash well in such a short book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars – Do you believe in fairies?
This blew my mind! I really didn’t know what to think, but as much as I abhorred the actions of some of the characters and the cruelty on page, I was hooked and could not put it down, the writing grabbed me and wouldn’t let go and then delivered a cliffhanger!!
An accident destroys so many lives and leaves our FMC Toren in hospital with no memories of what happened. Blamed for causing the accident, she first gets locked away for a year, and then gets delivered into the hands of the enemy by her unfeeling father. Xaden, our MMC, scoops her up as a bargaining chip. He hates her for the damage she caused. He is cold and cruel and violent, a walking red flag, but surprisingly, makes her feel safe in a world turned upside down.
This volume leaves us with some WTF moments, astonishing revelations, lots of unanswered questions, and many miles left to run on Xaden and Toren’s relationship.
Being a hockey book is almost a distraction; the hockey provides a playing field for Xaden and Toren’s brother to wage war in a constrained environment ahead of what appears to be coming. Bring on Book 2!!

[☆ Allanah • Cosmic's Library ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC REVIEW✨️

“You’re like a broken little fairy. Tinkerbell could only live because people believed in her. The moment they stopped, she died because fairies are nothing but a myth of beauty and virtue.”

Thankyou so much Hambright PR & Samantha Barrett for this ARC copy. 🫶🏻

This was my introduction to Samantha Barrett's solo writing and it was packed with unhinged mafia goodness, amnesia fueled mystery with a side of serial killer vibes.

🫦 Xaden - God he is such am alpha a*hole with 2 capitol A's and absolutely terrified me but I coudln't help but fall for all those red flags. He is the 'villain' in this story but he is the only one telling and revealing truths which makes him an absolute stand up guy!

🧚🏽‍♀️ Toren - UGH my heart was breaking for her during this whole story. I felt so hard and deeply for her. Seeing her development of being so broken but when things are snapping into place she is becoming a girl not to fuck with and I cant wait till she really puts the middle finger up to all these mofos.

All the characters are flawed, complex and messy in all the best ways! The story had me hooked from start to finish. Its fast paced but it feeds you the whole way and the ending will 100% leave you not okay begging for more. 😫 WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT SAMANTHA!? 😫

[Jen Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautifully crafted enemies-to-lovers, primal dark romance. Two unhinged characters have peaked my interest from the gate....Xaden and Cas. Xaden is as pitch black as you can get and he is delicious for that. Cas seems more morally grey but that can always can later. Both are furious and want revenge for something they believe the FMC is responsible for. Little did they know, her family was covering up for someone she trusted with her life. She has no memory of what happened and is just as surprised as they are when the truth comes to light. This novel featured a lot of action and has a plot with several twists. I love the blend of hockey and mafia. It gives the already rough sport that darker element that I crave.

Puck Around and Find Out is book 1 in the Devlin Mafia duet. It ended in a massive twist of a cliffhanger. I realize there's no pub date for book 2 YET..... But PLEASE say it's soon.

[Faye Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/3.75 rounded up

Thank you to the author & Hambright PR for the ARC! I am giving Puck Around and Find Out 3.75 stars.

With a title like that, I fully expected a sports romance and spent a good chunk of the book begging for more actual hockey. What you get instead is a really intense mafia story with a very heavy bully romance element.

​I usually love a messy, dark romance, but Xaden pushed my limits. The sheer level of hate and bullying made me realize I actually have a threshold for how toxic I like my male leads, and this was almost too much for me.

But even with that, it is a solid and well written story. The amnesia mystery is executed perfectly, and the angst of having everyone blame her for a tragic night she cannot even remember is so good.

​If you want something unapologetically brutal, this is a fantastic read. The cliffhanger ending is wild and will definitely leave you needing the next book. Just be warned that the bully aspect is incredibly heavy.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛓️‍💥 ARC REVIEW ⛓️‍💥

“Fairies die when no one believes in them anymore”

Whoa—what a ride Puck Around and Find Out was! This is a dark mafia romance, which isn’t usually my go-to, but I have to admit…I absolutely devoured this book.

The story follows three friends who died one tragic night and Toren, the sole survivor who has lost all memory of what really happened. Enter Xaden—dangerous, magnetic, and impossible to resist—like a moth to her flame. But nothing is ever as it seems.

This book is packed with unexpected twists, a dark, gritty atmosphere, and a pull that kept me hooked from the very first page. And that cliffhanger? Brutal. I need book two immediately.

If you like dark romance that keeps you guessing and leaves you craving more, this one delivers. 🖤

TROPES ✨
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
🔪 Serial Killer
🔗 Forced Proximity
🏃🏻‍♀️ Primal Play
🏒 Hockey
❤️‍🩹 Shattered FMC

[Kristian Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely unpredictable. I really thought I had the plot twists figured out, and boy was I so freaking wrong. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it. It kept stealing my attention and my thoughts. It was so dark, so devastating. My heart BROKE for Toren. I felt so forking bad for her, and how literally everyone in her life treated her. The MMC (I’m trying to avoid spoilers) still hate him, but I think that’s 100000% Miss Barrett’s intention. I need the next book, immediately!! That cliffhanger was so brutal, but I will patiently wait because I cannot wait to see what’s in store for us for book 2. A huge thank you to Hambright PR and Samantha Barrett for the ARC. This review reflects my own thoughts and feelings while reading the devastating masterpiece, Puck Around And Find Out.

[Allie Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG, OMG, OMG!! The ending I’m shook! If you want to read an LJ Shen x HD Carlton inspired book then this book is up your alley. PLUS, it involves hockey!! I’m a die hard sports romance book fan and this book took it to a new level. Oh btw, there’s mafia involved. I never thought I would say hockey romance and mafia in the same review, but we are here now lol. I devoured this book (read it in 2 days) and can honestly say I appreciated how the author made the FMC and MMC such complex characters with their own demons in the closet. She showed that forgiveness isn’t always the best possible route to take in intense situations. And yes, this book had multiple plot twists that I’m still reeling from. If you need a fast and seductive read, then I recommend this one!





Thank you to Hambright PR and Samantha Barrett for my ARC of this incredible book!! 🩵🖤




Will be counting down the days until book 2! 🤞

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explicit. This was a bit all over the place. A hockey and mafia combo, with an amnesia plot and a mystery regarding a car crash - it felt like this should have been two different stories, because they didn't mesh that well. The dialogue was very typical of the dark mafia romance genre, with a lot of cursing and not a lot actually being said. The story moved fast and I finish it in half a day, so it was easy to read and if you're looking for something dark and spicy, this will work for you. Read the trigger warnings! The ending is a cliffhanger, but I feel like it was a mild cliffhanger and feel pretty fine with the story finishing where it did.

I received a review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Sam ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this book gets a 5 as i literally ATE it up!! This is exactly what I needed to read as I nearly slumped prior! 😭

I was constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next! The tension was there, the red flags were there. So many twists and turns and wondering what happened from the start!! The answers were slowly revealed through out the book and the pacing of it was amazing!!

The MMC is a walking red flag but I’m here for it 🤣

And that ending???? I cannot wait to read the next when it comes out!!

This was my first mafia romance book and I will definitely be reading more!!!

Thank you so much to the author and Hambridge PR for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!! 💖

[Millie Quinones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hambright PR for this book.

The characters feel real—flawed, guarded, and hurting but trying their best. There’s a heaviness to the story, but it never feels hopeless. Instead, it shows how love can slowly break down walls without fixing everything overnight.

The connection between the characters is deep and intense, making every moment feel meaningful.

It’s a heavy read, but a beautiful one that stays with you.

[Yana Lately · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential but the writing was not it for me. The terms bitch and cunt were so overused. It felt like I was reading these words in every other sentence.

The revenge plot was decent but the characters themselves were extremely insufferable. Hopefully the next book will feel more like enemies to lovers.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole McKune · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Another five star read. This book was nothing short of amazing!! Honestly, I can’t wait for book two. Following alongside Terra on her journey had me on the edge of my seat. I finished this book in one sitting! I just couldn’t put it down.

The characters were enjoyable, the plot was page turning, and the overall vibe of the book was spectacular! I usually don’t like sports romances like that, but this one was done so so well. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

If you want to read a story of manipulation, anxiety inducing, lies, romance, spice and betrayal then I highly recommend this book for you!

[Karen Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last few chapters actually had me hooked. I might continue. Idk how I feel about Xaden ngl. I have mixed feelings about him. Also the word c*nt was used too many times. It felt like a slow pacing but it still intrigued me.

#HPRPuckAroundAndFindOut
#SamanthaBarrett
#HambrightPR

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Puck Around and Find Out is a dark romance set in a mafia/cartel world, and I went in expecting morally gray tension, power dynamics, and emotional intensity.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.

The writing felt very underdeveloped. Scenes lacked descriptive depth — settings were mentioned but not built. For example, instead of immersive world-building, moments felt surface-level (standing by “a tree” rather than grounding the reader in a vivid setting). I struggled to feel transported into the world.

The MMC also lacked redeeming qualities. In dark romance, I don’t need a soft hero — but I do need emotional complexity. His POV never showed internal conflict, vulnerability, or even subtle hints of attachment toward the FMC. He hated her throughout, and there were no internal thoughts suggesting anything deeper. That made the dynamic feel flat rather than tense.

The heavy repetition of degrading language also overshadowed emotional development instead of enhancing it.

It ends on a cliffhanger, so book two may expand the characters further. However, based on this installment alone, it wasn’t a good fit for me.

While this story may resonate with readers who prefer very dark, unfiltered dynamics, I personally needed more emotional depth and descriptive immersion to stay engaged.


Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mindy Menotti bookishly_mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a captivating ride this was! LOVED!!!!

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words.. I have literally no words.

This is one of the most intense enemies to lovers dark romance I have ever read, and that says a lot because a read a shit ton of enemies to lovers. Like the hatred is just off the charts, like the man genuinely loathes her to the fact that he was worried he wouldn’t be able to hide his disgust the first time they did it.

This book is so super dark so check your warnings, and out fmc is a VERY unreliable narrator because she lost her memories. The plot of this book was rooted in suspense, she’s lost her memories and is trying to figure out what actually happened the night she was sent to an asylum that made everyone hate her. However, the truth can often be very very ugly and curiosity kills the cat…this book proved these statements very fucking true. The plot twists in this book are insane, and honestly everyone including Xaden was terribly tricked.

Next their chemistry is just insane, it’s a revenge plot. Xaden basically uses and manipulates her to piss off her brother, who is his rival on the rink and in every other way. And minor spoiler but this includes giving him the bedsheets stained with her virgin blood after their first fvck…. So believe me when I say this man is the definition of unhinged.

However the saddest thing was how she was falling for it.. my heart broke for her and I cried so many damn times. This book had me in a chokehold from start to finish and that cliffhanger still has me stunned right now. I can’t wait for this next book, like literally need it like now. I give it a 5/5