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Detroit Panthers #2
Marry Me a Little
Maxine Hamilton-Williams just received an invite to her own wedding.
The only problem is, she isn’t engaged. In fact, she’s not even dating.
After spending Christmas with a man she may have been harbouring a small crush on, and sharing a passionate kiss, Maxxy thinks the new year might finally be the time to make a move on the Detroit Panthers captain. But her life gets turned upside down when her estranged mother starts sending out wedding invites with her name on them.
Teddy Carter is approaching the finish line of his professional hockey career and has no idea what’s next. For now, he is focusing on making it through his final season and trying to go out on a high note.
But when he overhears Maxxy talking about marrying somebody else, he offers a solution.
Marry him instead.
With the upcoming All-Stars Weekend in Las Vegas, they decide to capitalise on the window of opportunity and explore their growing feelings in the process.
But Agatha Hamilton-Williams will not be ignored or go down without a fight.
Will Maxxy and Teddy’s marriage be able to withstand the pressure, or will they learn that Agatha always gets her way?
The only problem is, she isn’t engaged. In fact, she’s not even dating.
After spending Christmas with a man she may have been harbouring a small crush on, and sharing a passionate kiss, Maxxy thinks the new year might finally be the time to make a move on the Detroit Panthers captain. But her life gets turned upside down when her estranged mother starts sending out wedding invites with her name on them.
Teddy Carter is approaching the finish line of his professional hockey career and has no idea what’s next. For now, he is focusing on making it through his final season and trying to go out on a high note.
But when he overhears Maxxy talking about marrying somebody else, he offers a solution.
Marry him instead.
With the upcoming All-Stars Weekend in Las Vegas, they decide to capitalise on the window of opportunity and explore their growing feelings in the process.
But Agatha Hamilton-Williams will not be ignored or go down without a fight.
Will Maxxy and Teddy’s marriage be able to withstand the pressure, or will they learn that Agatha always gets her way?
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Sophie Thomas
6 books43 followersLondoner. Writer. Reader. Breaks the rules of grammar far too often for someone with an English degree. Enjoys getting idiots to fall in love and kiss each other (and get secret tattoos for one another).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 29, 2026
For the most part I was going to go with 4 stars but the second half bumped it to 5.
I felt a lot of different emotions while reading and I stayed past midnight to finish it (which I don’t do that often anymore)
Longer review to come when it’s not the middle of the night during the week
~~~
Once again the writing is not making it fast read (not binge-y?) but I did read it in 24h so it is a fast read, but doesn’t feel like it. I don’t know how to put it, lol.
The writing style is specific, in a good way.
Moment of appreciation for the ratio of pages vs number of chapters!! (300-sth pages, 70-sth chapters)
Sophie took a fresh take on pretty common tropes.
MMC is a hockey captain, but it’s not hockey romance. Vegas marriage but it’s not drunken mistake but actually planned, marriage of convenience. Friends to lovers which is not exactly my fav but I loved it here!
Oh, and they both work together and have mutual best friends, so forced proximity and workplace romance, but there was no big deal about them working for the same organization so not really workplace romance.
The main characters both had their issues, obviously, but I think they acted pretty mature throughout the whole book.
Teddy and Maxxy have been friends for a while, he’s a hockey player and she works for the team. They stay friends as neither of them was ready for something more, for their own reasons.
When the situation changes (they are maybe ready) and they start to harbor mutual crushes and wonder if they should start something more, the absolute devil of Maxxy’s mother creates *a situation* that forces Maxxy to marry someone. Why not Teddy, right?
They make a Vegas hockey weekend into a wedding one as well.
The story follows dealings with the worst mother ever - Maxxy’s mom - but Maxxy and Teddy enter into real relationship phase along the way.
It was so natural and sweet and swoony. I always fall for when they are in relationship, fake or real, and just DATE each other *swooooooon*
And the spice 🥵
I read mostly spicy books (sometimes darker ones or mafia ones too) and I truly feel like there’s not much that can surprise me. Change My Mind and Marry Me a Little both left my jaw on the floor when it comes to spice. And what is even better is that these books are not about the spice! Sex scenes are not the main focus so it hits even harder when they are causing this type of “shock” 😏 it lays partially in WHAT the characters are doing but MAINLY in the way it is written !
In Marry Me A Little there are only 2-maybe 3 spicy scenes in total, and you have to wait for it to happen (the burn is slow) but the first spicy scene - I needed to take breaks to breathe and take my jaw off the floor.
Hands down the spiciest scene I’ve read so far.
The. Tension. Was. Palpable.
It’s not about quantity but quality!
To sum it up: 5 stars, highly reccomend, don’t read it for of the spice but note that the spice is absolutely delicious and the highest quality, oh and the mother - straight to therapy or even better: jail.
I felt a lot of different emotions while reading and I stayed past midnight to finish it (which I don’t do that often anymore)
Longer review to come when it’s not the middle of the night during the week
~~~
Once again the writing is not making it fast read (not binge-y?) but I did read it in 24h so it is a fast read, but doesn’t feel like it. I don’t know how to put it, lol.
The writing style is specific, in a good way.
Moment of appreciation for the ratio of pages vs number of chapters!! (300-sth pages, 70-sth chapters)
Sophie took a fresh take on pretty common tropes.
MMC is a hockey captain, but it’s not hockey romance. Vegas marriage but it’s not drunken mistake but actually planned, marriage of convenience. Friends to lovers which is not exactly my fav but I loved it here!
Oh, and they both work together and have mutual best friends, so forced proximity and workplace romance, but there was no big deal about them working for the same organization so not really workplace romance.
The main characters both had their issues, obviously, but I think they acted pretty mature throughout the whole book.
Teddy and Maxxy have been friends for a while, he’s a hockey player and she works for the team. They stay friends as neither of them was ready for something more, for their own reasons.
When the situation changes (they are maybe ready) and they start to harbor mutual crushes and wonder if they should start something more, the absolute devil of Maxxy’s mother creates *a situation* that forces Maxxy to marry someone. Why not Teddy, right?
They make a Vegas hockey weekend into a wedding one as well.
The story follows dealings with the worst mother ever - Maxxy’s mom - but Maxxy and Teddy enter into real relationship phase along the way.
It was so natural and sweet and swoony. I always fall for when they are in relationship, fake or real, and just DATE each other *swooooooon*
And the spice 🥵
I read mostly spicy books (sometimes darker ones or mafia ones too) and I truly feel like there’s not much that can surprise me. Change My Mind and Marry Me a Little both left my jaw on the floor when it comes to spice. And what is even better is that these books are not about the spice! Sex scenes are not the main focus so it hits even harder when they are causing this type of “shock” 😏 it lays partially in WHAT the characters are doing but MAINLY in the way it is written !
In Marry Me A Little there are only 2-maybe 3 spicy scenes in total, and you have to wait for it to happen (the burn is slow) but the first spicy scene - I needed to take breaks to breathe and take my jaw off the floor.
Hands down the spiciest scene I’ve read so far.
The. Tension. Was. Palpable.
It’s not about quantity but quality!
To sum it up: 5 stars, highly reccomend, don’t read it for of the spice but note that the spice is absolutely delicious and the highest quality, oh and the mother - straight to therapy or even better: jail.
April 13, 2026
First of all thank you to LoveNotesPR and Sophie Thomas for this ARC.
This is the third book I read by Sophie and every book I've read by her were so far really good. And this one did not disappoint! I loved diving into the story of Maxxy and Teddy. This started so good and the ending was perfect.
Not only the romance in this book was good. The friendship between Maxxy and Alana is so beautiful to see, real girlhood. The heartbreaking relationship Maxxy has with her mother was written so good. I really felt bad for her and wished she had a better mother.
I think if you want something a bit more then just a romance, this book is perfect for you. Be ready to fall in love with these characters.
4 stars for me!
This is the third book I read by Sophie and every book I've read by her were so far really good. And this one did not disappoint! I loved diving into the story of Maxxy and Teddy. This started so good and the ending was perfect.
Not only the romance in this book was good. The friendship between Maxxy and Alana is so beautiful to see, real girlhood. The heartbreaking relationship Maxxy has with her mother was written so good. I really felt bad for her and wished she had a better mother.
I think if you want something a bit more then just a romance, this book is perfect for you. Be ready to fall in love with these characters.
4 stars for me!
March 31, 2026
I received this book as an ARC from LoveNotes.
This book was cute. I love a romance that keeps you wanting more. The banter with the characters was so relatable and flowing. The FMC seems like a best friend to me and I wanted her to get everything she deserved.
This book was cute. I love a romance that keeps you wanting more. The banter with the characters was so relatable and flowing. The FMC seems like a best friend to me and I wanted her to get everything she deserved.
April 6, 2026
Thank you so much to Love Notes PR and the author for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
Oh, I love a book by Sophie Thomas! I was so excited to pick up this book, as I ADORED Looks Real Good Now. This book was so sweet and was the perfect continuation to the series.
This book is a marriage of convenience between our two main characters, Teddy and Maxxy. And when I say this marriage starts off right away, I mean it! This man proposes to Maxxy the very second he finds out the difficult situation her mother put her in.
I really love Teddy and Maxxy. They may have skipped over dating and straight to marriage, but that physical (and emotional!) tension is there IMMEDIATELY! I would categorize this book as an insta-love type of romance. I definitely would have liked for there to be a little bit more interactions between the two of them before they did just fall for each other. Even though they were already interested in each other prior to getting married, I kind of felt like they fell in love a little too easily. (Which I did like, but also wanted more??)
Even though this was more insta-love as mentioned above, it was also a slow burn. They fell for each other so quickly, but also were not intimate until much later in the book. Now, this I loved!! The yearning for each other made it all that much better when they finally kissed, touched, etc hehehe. The fake phone call roleplay? HOT!
Maxxy's relationship with her mother was WILD. Reading it felt like watching a soap opera. Her mother did some absolutely unhinged things, and I felt so heartbroken for Maxxy. At times, some of the things were a little bit over the top unrealistic, but it added so much to the story at the same time. And her mother got her comeuppance!!
I read this one in a single day because I could not put it down. Even though I wish some of the pacing was a little bit different, it was a perfect quick read. Sophie Thomas never fails to write beautiful characters that draw you in. And we got a bunch of Liam and Alana, woohoo!
Thank you again to Love Notes and the author for an advanced copy! Definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a sweet romance.
3.75 stars
Oh, I love a book by Sophie Thomas! I was so excited to pick up this book, as I ADORED Looks Real Good Now. This book was so sweet and was the perfect continuation to the series.
This book is a marriage of convenience between our two main characters, Teddy and Maxxy. And when I say this marriage starts off right away, I mean it! This man proposes to Maxxy the very second he finds out the difficult situation her mother put her in.
I really love Teddy and Maxxy. They may have skipped over dating and straight to marriage, but that physical (and emotional!) tension is there IMMEDIATELY! I would categorize this book as an insta-love type of romance. I definitely would have liked for there to be a little bit more interactions between the two of them before they did just fall for each other. Even though they were already interested in each other prior to getting married, I kind of felt like they fell in love a little too easily. (Which I did like, but also wanted more??)
Even though this was more insta-love as mentioned above, it was also a slow burn. They fell for each other so quickly, but also were not intimate until much later in the book. Now, this I loved!! The yearning for each other made it all that much better when they finally kissed, touched, etc hehehe. The fake phone call roleplay? HOT!
Maxxy's relationship with her mother was WILD. Reading it felt like watching a soap opera. Her mother did some absolutely unhinged things, and I felt so heartbroken for Maxxy. At times, some of the things were a little bit over the top unrealistic, but it added so much to the story at the same time. And her mother got her comeuppance!!
I read this one in a single day because I could not put it down. Even though I wish some of the pacing was a little bit different, it was a perfect quick read. Sophie Thomas never fails to write beautiful characters that draw you in. And we got a bunch of Liam and Alana, woohoo!
Thank you again to Love Notes and the author for an advanced copy! Definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a sweet romance.
April 1, 2026
Absolutely smitten with Sophie’s writing! One of my favourite romance authors and I only discovered her last year. I was ecstatic when I was able to receive an arc copy of this book. Thanks LoveNotes PR. One thing I can count on Sophie for is incredible spicy scenes. Truly each book I’ve read by her feels fresh when it comes to the couples bedroom activities. I love it!
Now. An aspect I loved is the idea of platonic soulmates. The people you love / your found family — is truly the force that keeps so many of us going. Shoutout to my bestie <3
Familial ties aren’t always healthy and Maxxy (our mfc) has very strained relationships with her mom and sister, if any at all. Damn her family is a piece of work. Luckily she builds her own. And thats honestly the message I’m taking from this book. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Build the life you deserve with the people who truly love and care about you.
Now. An aspect I loved is the idea of platonic soulmates. The people you love / your found family — is truly the force that keeps so many of us going. Shoutout to my bestie <3
Familial ties aren’t always healthy and Maxxy (our mfc) has very strained relationships with her mom and sister, if any at all. Damn her family is a piece of work. Luckily she builds her own. And thats honestly the message I’m taking from this book. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Build the life you deserve with the people who truly love and care about you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Marry Me A Little 💍
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Sophie Thomas for trusting me with this ARC!💙
Maxine is getting married,the only problem is that she didn't know it.& now she may have to do it for real.
Teddy's hockey career is almost coming to an end,and he has absolutely no idea how life will be for him. Certainly,he isn't seeing himself as a married man,until he proposes it to Max.
and then everything changed.
If you knew me you know I love all the marriage contained tropes.Yet,I don't think I have enjoyed a book THAT MUCH!✨
We have a marriage of convenience,slow burn AND found family kind of story,so be prepared for the story to flow by.Personally,I got to 45% before even looking where I was in the book for the first time.
As I said,the book is really heavy of found family trope,something that suited so well into Maxine's character.We really see how in every stage of life you can found your forever people and at the same time that the people that were supposed to be your forever ones may be,who literally want to see you on your knees.
Continuing with Maxine,she was so lovely!Her inner feelings were shown to us a lot,and when I say I want to give her A HUGE hug I ABSOLUTELY m e a n it.Although,my girl eventually found all the hugs and kisses she needs in Teddy's arms.(GO GIRL!😻)
Teddy presents a side of a hockey player's life that we rarely have ever seen.
Their lives outside of the ice & their worth.
Usually,we focus on how good players they are,how many Stanley's they have gained etc.However,Thomas showed us,the other side of them that have nothing to do with pucks and sticks.
So,Teddy was emotionally smart,caring,kind and had so much love to give to Max(which by the way showed a lot 🌶️🫣 ).
Long story short,if you want a BEAUTIFUL slow burn romance,married-first, date-second,found family romance,add Marry Me A Little to your TBR NOW!🫶🏻
Out On Mar,31th🦋
4⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Sophie Thomas for trusting me with this ARC!💙
Maxine is getting married,the only problem is that she didn't know it.& now she may have to do it for real.
Teddy's hockey career is almost coming to an end,and he has absolutely no idea how life will be for him. Certainly,he isn't seeing himself as a married man,until he proposes it to Max.
and then everything changed.
If you knew me you know I love all the marriage contained tropes.Yet,I don't think I have enjoyed a book THAT MUCH!✨
We have a marriage of convenience,slow burn AND found family kind of story,so be prepared for the story to flow by.Personally,I got to 45% before even looking where I was in the book for the first time.
As I said,the book is really heavy of found family trope,something that suited so well into Maxine's character.We really see how in every stage of life you can found your forever people and at the same time that the people that were supposed to be your forever ones may be,who literally want to see you on your knees.
Continuing with Maxine,she was so lovely!Her inner feelings were shown to us a lot,and when I say I want to give her A HUGE hug I ABSOLUTELY m e a n it.Although,my girl eventually found all the hugs and kisses she needs in Teddy's arms.(GO GIRL!😻)
Teddy presents a side of a hockey player's life that we rarely have ever seen.
Their lives outside of the ice & their worth.
Usually,we focus on how good players they are,how many Stanley's they have gained etc.However,Thomas showed us,the other side of them that have nothing to do with pucks and sticks.
So,Teddy was emotionally smart,caring,kind and had so much love to give to Max(which by the way showed a lot 🌶️🫣 ).
Long story short,if you want a BEAUTIFUL slow burn romance,married-first, date-second,found family romance,add Marry Me A Little to your TBR NOW!🫶🏻
Out On Mar,31th🦋
4⭐
April 7, 2026
Marry Me A Little 💍🏒📖🫶🏾
5/5 ✨✨✨✨✨
Teddy Carter and Maxine Williams, aka Teddy and Maxxy, have a story is that I’ll hold dear to my heart 🫶🏾. It actually reminds me a little of the relationship I have with my boyfriend. When her world felt like it was crumbling, he was there to get her through it all.
Imagine, despite everything in your life being turnt upside down, and the heard reality of life constantly trying to knock you down, but then, realizing all those times that you thought you were alone, you really weren’t. That’s Maxxy’s story. Maxxy, the FMC, can be described as resilient, independent, and hardworking. Everything in life wasn’t handed to her, nor was it easy, but she didn’t let that stop her from getting the life she deserves!
Teddy and Liam are a packaged deal! They have an intimidate bromance that many men would probably die for. It’s cute how they know so much based on a glance or change of tone. Teddy showed up as level headed, loving, supportive, and so much for! Liam showed up as the friend I everyone’s corner, a brother, a good partner, and was very supportive from the start of everything that unfolds later in the story 👀
Alana, teddy’s best friend is a god sent! There for her, through thick and thin, for better or for worst, the best friend a girl could ever ask for! Everyone deserves an Alana in their corner! When things got tough, she was always there in Maxxy’s corner to reassure her that she deserved much more than she could imagine.
The underdog of the story, Sebastian, if you know you know, get you a Sebastian! He had more of a lowkey role but you will definitely fall in love with this character! Him and Maxxy’s stories are ones that tug at the heart strings but the way they continuously show up for one another, definitely makes you smile throughout the book.
Overall, I really loved reading Marry Me A Little 💍❤️✨! This was my first Sophie Thomas read and I can’t wait to read more by her! I really really felt immersed into the story, I felt all the emotions, and would definitely read again and recommend!!
5/5 ✨✨✨✨✨
Teddy Carter and Maxine Williams, aka Teddy and Maxxy, have a story is that I’ll hold dear to my heart 🫶🏾. It actually reminds me a little of the relationship I have with my boyfriend. When her world felt like it was crumbling, he was there to get her through it all.
Imagine, despite everything in your life being turnt upside down, and the heard reality of life constantly trying to knock you down, but then, realizing all those times that you thought you were alone, you really weren’t. That’s Maxxy’s story. Maxxy, the FMC, can be described as resilient, independent, and hardworking. Everything in life wasn’t handed to her, nor was it easy, but she didn’t let that stop her from getting the life she deserves!
Teddy and Liam are a packaged deal! They have an intimidate bromance that many men would probably die for. It’s cute how they know so much based on a glance or change of tone. Teddy showed up as level headed, loving, supportive, and so much for! Liam showed up as the friend I everyone’s corner, a brother, a good partner, and was very supportive from the start of everything that unfolds later in the story 👀
Alana, teddy’s best friend is a god sent! There for her, through thick and thin, for better or for worst, the best friend a girl could ever ask for! Everyone deserves an Alana in their corner! When things got tough, she was always there in Maxxy’s corner to reassure her that she deserved much more than she could imagine.
The underdog of the story, Sebastian, if you know you know, get you a Sebastian! He had more of a lowkey role but you will definitely fall in love with this character! Him and Maxxy’s stories are ones that tug at the heart strings but the way they continuously show up for one another, definitely makes you smile throughout the book.
Overall, I really loved reading Marry Me A Little 💍❤️✨! This was my first Sophie Thomas read and I can’t wait to read more by her! I really really felt immersed into the story, I felt all the emotions, and would definitely read again and recommend!!
April 6, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book, and overall it was a really enjoyable read!
This is a friends-to-lovers hockey romance, which is one of my favourite tropes, and it was also a marriage of convenience novel which the author handled really well. The pining between the main characters was especially satisfying, and I loved seeing how their relationship naturally progressed throughout the book.
I particularly appreciated how strong their communication was, as both characters were emotionally mature, and it was refreshing to see them actually talk things through rather than relying on unnecessary drama. The dual POV worked really well due to this, helping me understand the characters’ feelings without over explaining.
It really helped that both of them were such green flags as it made their relationship easy to root for. I also really liked the portrayal of friendships in this book, especially how both male and female friendships were included without any jealousy or tension from love interests.
The main reason this wasn’t a five-star read for me is that it felt like something was slightly missing. I think part of that might be because this is the second book in a series, and it didn’t fully stand alone, as there were moments where I felt like I was lacking context, especially at the beginning. That said, I still had a great time reading this and would definitely be interested in continuing with the series.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This is a friends-to-lovers hockey romance, which is one of my favourite tropes, and it was also a marriage of convenience novel which the author handled really well. The pining between the main characters was especially satisfying, and I loved seeing how their relationship naturally progressed throughout the book.
I particularly appreciated how strong their communication was, as both characters were emotionally mature, and it was refreshing to see them actually talk things through rather than relying on unnecessary drama. The dual POV worked really well due to this, helping me understand the characters’ feelings without over explaining.
It really helped that both of them were such green flags as it made their relationship easy to root for. I also really liked the portrayal of friendships in this book, especially how both male and female friendships were included without any jealousy or tension from love interests.
The main reason this wasn’t a five-star read for me is that it felt like something was slightly missing. I think part of that might be because this is the second book in a series, and it didn’t fully stand alone, as there were moments where I felt like I was lacking context, especially at the beginning. That said, I still had a great time reading this and would definitely be interested in continuing with the series.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
April 16, 2026
This was such a sweet, enjoyable story with heart, tension, and found family goodness.
I loved Teddy and Maxxy’s relationship—watching it grow from friendship to soft crushes to something deeper was so satisfying. Teddy being there for Maxxy, even without knowing everything she was going through, made me love him even more.
Now…Agatha? Whew 😤 She was a piece of WORK. My heart really broke for Maxxy. Some of her actions felt a bit over-the-top, but she (and Jo) were definitely characters you love to hate. I thought Jo might redeem herself for a second…but nope.
One of my favorite parts was Maxxy’s found family 🥹 Her bestie Alana, Liam, Teddy’s family, even the hockey team—they all showed up for her in such a beautiful way. And the bromance between Teddy and Liam? ELITE. Their little game-day tradition and silent communication? True brotherhood.
Also…I need a book for Sebastian. He deserved so much more, and I loved how he supported Maxxy and helped her plan her moment.
This is definitely a slow burn, with the spice coming later, but honestly—it worked. The tension, the story, and the emotional buildup kept me fully invested, and the spice felt like the perfect finishing touch.
Overall, a heartfelt romance with lovable characters, messy drama, and a found family that makes it all worth it.
I received this from Sophie Thomas and Love Notes PR in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Teddy and Maxxy’s relationship—watching it grow from friendship to soft crushes to something deeper was so satisfying. Teddy being there for Maxxy, even without knowing everything she was going through, made me love him even more.
Now…Agatha? Whew 😤 She was a piece of WORK. My heart really broke for Maxxy. Some of her actions felt a bit over-the-top, but she (and Jo) were definitely characters you love to hate. I thought Jo might redeem herself for a second…but nope.
One of my favorite parts was Maxxy’s found family 🥹 Her bestie Alana, Liam, Teddy’s family, even the hockey team—they all showed up for her in such a beautiful way. And the bromance between Teddy and Liam? ELITE. Their little game-day tradition and silent communication? True brotherhood.
Also…I need a book for Sebastian. He deserved so much more, and I loved how he supported Maxxy and helped her plan her moment.
This is definitely a slow burn, with the spice coming later, but honestly—it worked. The tension, the story, and the emotional buildup kept me fully invested, and the spice felt like the perfect finishing touch.
Overall, a heartfelt romance with lovable characters, messy drama, and a found family that makes it all worth it.
I received this from Sophie Thomas and Love Notes PR in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2026
I loved being back with this group of friends!!! Maxxy, Teddy, Alana, and Liam HAVE MY HEART!! This is the best kid of found family!! The love they have for each other IS SO BIG!! It’s just so sweet!! And then Maxxy and Teddy!!! Friends who get married in Vegas for reasons and bc then they can DATE bc they have actually pretty significant secret crushes on each other!!! who then have THE SLOWEST LOST DELICIOUS BURN!! I loved them so so so much!!!
They were literally perfect! Their friendship was GOOD! I loved that even after they got married, and it was very clear they were going to DATE!!!!! They still took it so slow and still built a really solid foundation! Because even though they “rushed” some things, they weren’t going to miss out on anything else!! It just WAS SO GOOD!!
And Sophie’s writing is SO GOOD! The way she wrote Maxxy’s grief when she was younger and how hard it was for her to grieve her dad alone, while also being shut out by her mother and then grieving the loss of a person she was still living with!!! Then seeing how she’s still dealing with it in the present! Absolutely heartbreaking and done SO WELL! And then NOW she has Teddy, who is so all in!!! And allows her to sit with her emotions and does whatever she needs!! Which was literally exactly what she’s needed!!
I’m fully invested in both of Sophie’s series and cannot wait for whatever’s next!!
They were literally perfect! Their friendship was GOOD! I loved that even after they got married, and it was very clear they were going to DATE!!!!! They still took it so slow and still built a really solid foundation! Because even though they “rushed” some things, they weren’t going to miss out on anything else!! It just WAS SO GOOD!!
And Sophie’s writing is SO GOOD! The way she wrote Maxxy’s grief when she was younger and how hard it was for her to grieve her dad alone, while also being shut out by her mother and then grieving the loss of a person she was still living with!!! Then seeing how she’s still dealing with it in the present! Absolutely heartbreaking and done SO WELL! And then NOW she has Teddy, who is so all in!!! And allows her to sit with her emotions and does whatever she needs!! Which was literally exactly what she’s needed!!
I’m fully invested in both of Sophie’s series and cannot wait for whatever’s next!!
April 1, 2026
Teddy and Maxxy
A surprise wedding that no one knew about.
A toxic ‘mother’.
An unrequited crush.
A professional hockey player.
A spontaneous proposal.
This was cute, and really sweet. Every now and then, I just want a story where the MMC and MFC just get together, and they just progress into the relationship normally. Teddy and Maxxy did this (for the most part), but the angst…
Well, that came from her mother.
This covers a few tropes I really enjoy.
* Sports romance (not a huge amount in there, but he’s a pro hockey player approaching the end of his career).
* Marriage of convenience
* Friends-to-lovers
* Found family
And, all of them combined by Sophie Thomas made for a delightful little romance.
Her mum… well, let’s hope she comeuppance. I could only imagine what Maxxy was feeling with her mum’s machinations, but Sophie managed to convey her feelings pretty well. The devastation and confusion, the feeling of futility… I was just so glad that she had such a supportive network around her.
I adored Teddy. He was all in from the start, and I loved reading about the support from everyone around them.
Overall, a very sweet story.
A surprise wedding that no one knew about.
A toxic ‘mother’.
An unrequited crush.
A professional hockey player.
A spontaneous proposal.
This was cute, and really sweet. Every now and then, I just want a story where the MMC and MFC just get together, and they just progress into the relationship normally. Teddy and Maxxy did this (for the most part), but the angst…
Well, that came from her mother.
This covers a few tropes I really enjoy.
* Sports romance (not a huge amount in there, but he’s a pro hockey player approaching the end of his career).
* Marriage of convenience
* Friends-to-lovers
* Found family
And, all of them combined by Sophie Thomas made for a delightful little romance.
Her mum… well, let’s hope she comeuppance. I could only imagine what Maxxy was feeling with her mum’s machinations, but Sophie managed to convey her feelings pretty well. The devastation and confusion, the feeling of futility… I was just so glad that she had such a supportive network around her.
I adored Teddy. He was all in from the start, and I loved reading about the support from everyone around them.
Overall, a very sweet story.
April 7, 2026
What a lovely read with a beautiful taste of sugar and spice! The perfect combination to make this holiday-themed story all the more fulfilling. From the first few pages, you can feel the electricity between the main characters, Teddy and Maxxy, come to life in ways that were quirky, relatable, and engaging. The level of writing the author demonstrates is truly impressive as Thomas delivers each section from a dual POV perspective that deeply conveys the mindset of character. I loved gaining a thorough sense of both Teddy and Maxxy as individuals, which made the story all the more relatable and the characters all the more lovable. To see two Black professionals doing their thing while navigating a new love that’s blossoming under the most peculiar circumstances, makes the storyline all the more compelling. Loved Maxxy and Teddy—- Alana was a real one, hated Maxxy’s mother, but, without giving anything away, I will say she had her issues. This one is a slow burn, and, as mentioned, has a Christmas-theme, but the love scenes, plot, and overall story tie together in ways that can easily make you yearn for X-mas any time of the year. Worth reading every page!
April 7, 2026
I received this book as an ARC in return for my honest review.
Honestly, this book reminded me why I eat up a marriage of convenience EVERY. TIME! Maxxy has persevered in life, even without the support of jaded and emotionally immature mother and without her sister that enables said behavior. Having not heard from her in years, she receives an invitation in the mail from her mother for HER WEDDING! Crazy work. She calls her supposed husband to be only to find out that this marriage is a ploy for her mother to get what she wants. She’s out of options and very single when her bestie’s bestie offers himself instead. Can’t attend your fake wedding if you already attending you arranged wedding, right? While the wedding is arranged, the feelings they have about one another already are not, leaving Teddy utterly invested in dating his new wife.
I loved Maxxy finding her chosen family and love from people who would do anything for her and Teddy finding love outside of his first love in hockey. Super cute and I hope Maxxy mom and sister never know happiness :)
Honestly, this book reminded me why I eat up a marriage of convenience EVERY. TIME! Maxxy has persevered in life, even without the support of jaded and emotionally immature mother and without her sister that enables said behavior. Having not heard from her in years, she receives an invitation in the mail from her mother for HER WEDDING! Crazy work. She calls her supposed husband to be only to find out that this marriage is a ploy for her mother to get what she wants. She’s out of options and very single when her bestie’s bestie offers himself instead. Can’t attend your fake wedding if you already attending you arranged wedding, right? While the wedding is arranged, the feelings they have about one another already are not, leaving Teddy utterly invested in dating his new wife.
I loved Maxxy finding her chosen family and love from people who would do anything for her and Teddy finding love outside of his first love in hockey. Super cute and I hope Maxxy mom and sister never know happiness :)
April 7, 2026
Having read Looks Real Good Now I was so glad that we were getting more from this world! I got right back into the Detroit Panthers world. I enjoyed this story so much!
Maxine AKA Maxxy and Teddy's journey captured my attention right away! These two are good friends. When circumstances lead Teddy and Maxxy to getting married in Vegas it ignites even more between them. Can they make it work and it be everything for them?
I adored how Teddy and Maxxy were friends. It was great seeing how Vegas brought them even closer together. From Maxxy's mom, their marriage, the Detroit Panthers, and everything they felt for one another, I couldn't wait to see how Maxxy and Teddy would take it all on!
I really felt for Maxxy and everything she was dealing with. She was such a lovely and strong character. I adored how Teddy was there for Maxxy. He was wonderful and cared so deeply for Maxxy. From marriage to their true feelings, I enjoyed watching them navigating things. The chemistry between these two was so great and real! Teddy and Maxxy brought many feels to my heart!
I so enjoyed being back in the Detroit Panthers world and reuniting with some familiar faces!
With Marry Me A Little, Ms.Thomas has created a great friends to lovers romance that brought married in Vegas, such realness, heart and spice, and many emotions! 💍
I can't wait to read what this author brings our way next!
Check out the author's content warnings note.
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*
Maxine AKA Maxxy and Teddy's journey captured my attention right away! These two are good friends. When circumstances lead Teddy and Maxxy to getting married in Vegas it ignites even more between them. Can they make it work and it be everything for them?
I adored how Teddy and Maxxy were friends. It was great seeing how Vegas brought them even closer together. From Maxxy's mom, their marriage, the Detroit Panthers, and everything they felt for one another, I couldn't wait to see how Maxxy and Teddy would take it all on!
I really felt for Maxxy and everything she was dealing with. She was such a lovely and strong character. I adored how Teddy was there for Maxxy. He was wonderful and cared so deeply for Maxxy. From marriage to their true feelings, I enjoyed watching them navigating things. The chemistry between these two was so great and real! Teddy and Maxxy brought many feels to my heart!
I so enjoyed being back in the Detroit Panthers world and reuniting with some familiar faces!
With Marry Me A Little, Ms.Thomas has created a great friends to lovers romance that brought married in Vegas, such realness, heart and spice, and many emotions! 💍
I can't wait to read what this author brings our way next!
Check out the author's content warnings note.
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*
April 1, 2026
Thanks to Love Notes PR and Sophie Thomas for the chance to review an e-ARC copy of Marry Me a Little.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was wholesome and sweet. The tropes are some of my faves and particularly the friends to lovers made me swoon. The way they knew they were into each other from the beginning but convinced themselves it just wasn't the right time was a little frustrating, just because you knew how good they could be together.
I got so angry at the FMC's mom sometimes, it just made me wish that her daughter got everything she wished for and more. Honestly, the MMC is swoon worthy and a really awesome guy. All in all, I loved this book and I think a large part of that is because of the way Sophie Thomas takes some of the most well known tropes and twists them in a way they don't seem tired and cliché.
Really recommend, it is totally worth it! Also, there aren't many spicy scenes, but OH BOY, they are impecable!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was wholesome and sweet. The tropes are some of my faves and particularly the friends to lovers made me swoon. The way they knew they were into each other from the beginning but convinced themselves it just wasn't the right time was a little frustrating, just because you knew how good they could be together.
I got so angry at the FMC's mom sometimes, it just made me wish that her daughter got everything she wished for and more. Honestly, the MMC is swoon worthy and a really awesome guy. All in all, I loved this book and I think a large part of that is because of the way Sophie Thomas takes some of the most well known tropes and twists them in a way they don't seem tired and cliché.
Really recommend, it is totally worth it! Also, there aren't many spicy scenes, but OH BOY, they are impecable!
April 8, 2026
⭐️ 4.5/5
🔥 4.5/5
🌶️ 4.5/5
💧 4.5/5
Marry Me A Little was a fun and engaging romance with a unique take on familiar tropes.
The premise immediately pulled me in—Maxine receiving a wedding invitation to her own wedding despite not being engaged set the tone for a chaotic and entertaining story. The involvement of her mother added another layer of conflict that kept things interesting.
Teddy, a hockey player nearing the end of his career, brought a grounded and steady presence to the story. His dynamic with Maxine, especially through the friends-to-lovers progression, felt natural while still offering something slightly different from the typical take on the trope.
The relationship development worked well, balancing humor, tension, and emotional moments. The chemistry between them was strong, and the spice added to the overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this was a fun, character-driven romance with a fresh spin on familiar tropes.
🔥 4.5/5
🌶️ 4.5/5
💧 4.5/5
Marry Me A Little was a fun and engaging romance with a unique take on familiar tropes.
The premise immediately pulled me in—Maxine receiving a wedding invitation to her own wedding despite not being engaged set the tone for a chaotic and entertaining story. The involvement of her mother added another layer of conflict that kept things interesting.
Teddy, a hockey player nearing the end of his career, brought a grounded and steady presence to the story. His dynamic with Maxine, especially through the friends-to-lovers progression, felt natural while still offering something slightly different from the typical take on the trope.
The relationship development worked well, balancing humor, tension, and emotional moments. The chemistry between them was strong, and the spice added to the overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, this was a fun, character-driven romance with a fresh spin on familiar tropes.
Read
March 19, 2026A Maxxy le gusta tener el control de su vida, aunque eso signifique mantenerse lejos de su familia y de cualquier cosa que se parezca al amor. Todo va bien hasta que su madre reaparece solo para arruinarle la paz con una boda que ya está planeada, con invitaciones enviadas y con un “novio” que ni siquiera sabía que estaba comprometido con ella.
Atrapada en el caos de la boda, con presiones que vienen de todos lados y secretos familiares, Maxxy tiene que decidir si seguirá dejando que otros sigan manejando su vida o si hará algo al respecto. Y justo cuando todo parece salirse de control, Teddy se mete en medio con una propuesta que suena igual de mala que la idea original, pero que por alguna razón se siente como la única opción que realmente quiere.
__
Gracias Love Note PR por el ARC.
Atrapada en el caos de la boda, con presiones que vienen de todos lados y secretos familiares, Maxxy tiene que decidir si seguirá dejando que otros sigan manejando su vida o si hará algo al respecto. Y justo cuando todo parece salirse de control, Teddy se mete en medio con una propuesta que suena igual de mala que la idea original, pero que por alguna razón se siente como la única opción que realmente quiere.
__
Gracias Love Note PR por el ARC.
April 7, 2026
Marry Me A Little, Love Me A Lot!
The story of Maxxy and Teddy is one told so sweet. Though they’re forced together into a fake marriage, the genesis of their feelings for each other are real! Marry Me A Little is a true testament to found family and a love so soft, yet fierce that it will protect you from falling under any circumstance. Coming from a family that loved hard and loud, Teddy is exactly who and what Maxxy needs to finally stand up to her mother and sister and finally choose herself and those who love her. This love is a slow burn in its essence but there is some spice sprinkled in that lets you know Teddy ain’t nothing to play with!!! Would recommend to all, but especially to my hopeless romantics, those who love a good slow burn, friends who will ride at dawn, and guys who love their girls through all seasons.
The story of Maxxy and Teddy is one told so sweet. Though they’re forced together into a fake marriage, the genesis of their feelings for each other are real! Marry Me A Little is a true testament to found family and a love so soft, yet fierce that it will protect you from falling under any circumstance. Coming from a family that loved hard and loud, Teddy is exactly who and what Maxxy needs to finally stand up to her mother and sister and finally choose herself and those who love her. This love is a slow burn in its essence but there is some spice sprinkled in that lets you know Teddy ain’t nothing to play with!!! Would recommend to all, but especially to my hopeless romantics, those who love a good slow burn, friends who will ride at dawn, and guys who love their girls through all seasons.
April 6, 2026
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Sophie Thomas for the ARC! This is my fourth book by Sophie, and she never fails to deliver all the feels. 💖
Not gonna lie, one of my favorite parts was seeing my favorites, Alana and Liam (from Looks Real Good Now), back in action and they played such a huge role for Teddy and Maxxy!
Sophie truly writes the best MMC and the most supportive best friends. While the concept of a mother planning a wedding without her daughter’s consent is heartbreaking, it added such compelling layer to the story. And of course, we have a hero who would do anything to help her, even "forced" marriage (though we all know he didn't mind one bit! 🤭).
It’s the perfect mix of emotion and spice. 🌶️
#SophieThomas #DetroitPanthers #RomanceReader #BookReview
Not gonna lie, one of my favorite parts was seeing my favorites, Alana and Liam (from Looks Real Good Now), back in action and they played such a huge role for Teddy and Maxxy!
Sophie truly writes the best MMC and the most supportive best friends. While the concept of a mother planning a wedding without her daughter’s consent is heartbreaking, it added such compelling layer to the story. And of course, we have a hero who would do anything to help her, even "forced" marriage (though we all know he didn't mind one bit! 🤭).
It’s the perfect mix of emotion and spice. 🌶️
#SophieThomas #DetroitPanthers #RomanceReader #BookReview
April 7, 2026
This read from beginning to end was so refreshing. I think this might be one of those books that managed to pull off one my favorite tropes flawlessly. I can't remember the last time I liked both a MMC and FMC the way I did both of Maxxy and Teddy! The were both kind people that were so loved by the people the truly knew them and overall the book just had such a good feeling too it even with the family conflicted with the FMC's family. Also, gotta say? Love platonic soul mates and how much their best friends were truly their persons. This does make me want to go back and read the first one now because I would not have known that these characters were not fleshed out previously if it hasn't been dropped at the end of the book by the author.
April 5, 2026
Bro what the actual *^+¥ is wrong with Maxxy’s family?!
Her sister can play the victim but she is a grown adult still letting her mother run her life. I never really understand why Agatha the bad witch hated Maxxy so much. Is it because she looks like her dead husband? Like that evil had to be in her already to start hating her daughter to the point she made up a whole lie to blame her for her father’s death.
I’m really enjoying this series so far. I love the way the author tells a story.
What you’ll get:
Vegas Wedding
Found Family
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Her sister can play the victim but she is a grown adult still letting her mother run her life. I never really understand why Agatha the bad witch hated Maxxy so much. Is it because she looks like her dead husband? Like that evil had to be in her already to start hating her daughter to the point she made up a whole lie to blame her for her father’s death.
I’m really enjoying this series so far. I love the way the author tells a story.
What you’ll get:
Vegas Wedding
Found Family
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 4, 2026
Wow her family situation is so sad i don't understand how someone can treat there daughter like this let alone deciding after all that time that she is going to plan Maxine's wedding when she isn't even dating someone left alone engaged. Teddy Carter and Maxine's have shared moments but his first love is Hockey its definitely right people but wrong time. He hears maxine's issue so offers to marry her. I liked the build up between them so much the sofa scene *fans myself*
April 8, 2026
I got this book as an arc, an interesting read it was.
From the first page, I knew this book was going to be a solid 4, the book had me hitting so many emotional mark, from pain, to joy, sadness to literal shock. I loved how fast pace it was and easy to digest, I loved the friendships and relationship in this book. The writing was excellent, there was really nothing not to love about this book. I will definitely yap about this book on my substack.
From the first page, I knew this book was going to be a solid 4, the book had me hitting so many emotional mark, from pain, to joy, sadness to literal shock. I loved how fast pace it was and easy to digest, I loved the friendships and relationship in this book. The writing was excellent, there was really nothing not to love about this book. I will definitely yap about this book on my substack.
March 29, 2026
2.75/3 ⭐️
I’m so glad I got to read this early! This was such a cute story with a lot of elements that I really enjoyed. The writing had a few moments of feeling robotic but it hit with emotion when it really counted. I would have liked a few more moments of the story feeling balanced between the FMC and MMC but there was more to the FMC plot line.
I’m so glad I got to read this early! This was such a cute story with a lot of elements that I really enjoyed. The writing had a few moments of feeling robotic but it hit with emotion when it really counted. I would have liked a few more moments of the story feeling balanced between the FMC and MMC but there was more to the FMC plot line.
April 7, 2026
I’m honestly obsessed with Teddy & Maxxy 🥹 They basically skipped dating and went straight to marriage, but the tension—both physical and emotional—is there right away 🔥 Definitely gives insta-love vibes. I do wish we got a few more moments of them together before they fully fell, because even though the feelings were already there, it all happened so fast.
April 8, 2026
Thank you love notes from providing me the ARC copy.
This was my first book by Sophie Thomas and I really enjoyed it. It was cute and the way Sophie uprooted all tropes only to rebuild them was really fascinating.
It wasn’t a binge read, the writing style was very specific but the second half of the book was the best
This was my first book by Sophie Thomas and I really enjoyed it. It was cute and the way Sophie uprooted all tropes only to rebuild them was really fascinating.
It wasn’t a binge read, the writing style was very specific but the second half of the book was the best
April 8, 2026
The idea that starts everything in this book is very unusual, I’ve never read an arranged marriage like that, and I was as shocked as Maxine 😂
The story itself it’s a very good friends to lovers with a lot of spice, but I’m not gonna lie I enjoyed it.
The blurb of the book is what made me read it in the first place, and I’m glad I did!
The story itself it’s a very good friends to lovers with a lot of spice, but I’m not gonna lie I enjoyed it.
The blurb of the book is what made me read it in the first place, and I’m glad I did!
May 10, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. This was my first book by this author, and I will be looking into their catalouge to see what else might interest me. It was a cute stoey, and i really enjoyed the banter. And that certain character, she can kick rocks with open toed shoes on, cause she was trifling.
April 4, 2026
This was a really cute story. I loved how Teddy gave Max a solution to her situation with her estranged mother. But it was even better when he was intentional in actually having a relationship with her and making their marriage work. This was a sweet and fun story.
April 7, 2026
First, thank you so much for this ARC!
Secondly, I LOVED the banter in this book, how well I felt like I knew the characters, and the tropes that never felt forced and always organic. Loved this romance and definitely felt like I’d miss the characters when I finished. Would definitely recommend
Secondly, I LOVED the banter in this book, how well I felt like I knew the characters, and the tropes that never felt forced and always organic. Loved this romance and definitely felt like I’d miss the characters when I finished. Would definitely recommend
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